UN: Aid Airlifted To Afghan Flood Victims

21 March 2005 -- The United Nations says relief efforts are underway in Afghanistan, where upwards of 200 people are feared dead from floods caused by torrential rains and melting snow.

UN spokeswoman Ariane Quentier said in Kabul that five metric tons of World Food Program assistance had been airlifted to the worst-affected area, the central Uruzgan Province, and five more tons would be delivered shortly.

Quentier said U.S. helicopters had rescued some 250 trapped flood victims after heavy rain caused flooding along the Helmand River in the Deh Rawud district of Uruzgan.

The western Farah Province is among other areas that have been hard hit by the flooding.

(Agencies)