Appeal for Afghans at Jalozai

UNHCR is appealing for help for nearly 6,000 families or some 30,000 refugees who recently fled from northern Afghanistan into Pakistan and are currently living in the Jalozai camp area, about 25 km north-east of Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province [NWFP]. “UNHCR, WFP and other parties have been providing assistance in an adhoc way,” UNHCR senior programme officer in Peshawar, Zivan Damato, told IRIN on Thursday. He said the refugee agency was now finalising preparations to shift the families to other areas where assistance could be provided. Damato said: “Conditions are extremely crowded and unhygienic. We need to move them out.” Weather conditions were causing particular concern he warned: “Due to extreme cold and overcrowding, there exists the very real possibility of many infants and others dying of preventable illnesses unless assistance is quickly provided.”