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ISLAMABAD: The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have little clue to a large majority of displaced local population of eastern Afghanistan numbering over 300,000 following collapse of Tora Bora. Out of the 300,000 displaced person, the United Nations could provide some information about the whereabouts of 1,000 families (about 6,000 persons) who are said to have moved from the Tora Bora mountain range to neighbouring districts especially Koghiani.

According to another UN report, over 1,000 persons recently crossed the Pakistani Turkham border. The Turkham crossing point is only 12 km from the embattled Tora Bora area. "Returnees are essentially ethnic Tajiks and Uzbeks, while the Pashtuns, who are considered Taliban sympathisers, are hesitant to go back to areas under the control of the Northern Alliance," said a UN official. United Nations' Jalalabad field office said the authorities are asking for assistance in form of drinking water, food, warm clothes and shelter. 

The International Rescue Committee and some aid bodies are supporting the IDPs in those districts. The UN Jalalabad office has also received request from the authorities "to get permits from the planning department to facilitate at the checkpoints before sending in supplies to city." Meanwhile UNHCR official Fatoumata Kaba said, "While we have improved access to north, west and central Afghanistan, we are still concerned about the ongoing instability in southern and eastern region where we have not been able to carry out any humanitarian activities." 

The UN plans to conduct security assessments in Kandahar and Jalalabad. "UNHCR is ready to reopen its offices in both areas if the results of the assessment are positive," said an official. WFP plans to make immediate food assessments as enter as soon as it is granted permission to enter. WFP is also increasing its staffing capacity in Afghanistan. The food programme has 24 international staff working in Kabul (7), Mazar (2), Herat (5) and Faizabad (10). WFP total manpower comprising national staff working in Afghanistan is 228.