The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that at least 27,000 people have been displaced following the fighting in Balkhab district in Sar-e-Pul province.
In a statement, OCHA said that it will provide food and other supplies to over 10,000 in Balkhab and to 6,000 in Bamyan.
“Our partners are preparing to provide food and other supplies to more than 10,000 people in Balkhab. Families have fled to neighbouring provinces in the north and to Bamiyan Province in the central highlands,” said a statement.
According to the statement, in Bamiyan province there are more than 6,000 internally displaced people, and OCHA teams along with partners are going to provide people with food, health care, education and psychosocial support, as well as cash assistance and other supplies.
“The Islamic Emirate should consider each side of the conflict … civilians should not be harmed as a result of the conflict. If civilians are displaced, it is the government’s responsibility to take steps to assist” said Aziz Maarej, a political analyst.
Meanwhile, local officials in Sar-e-Pul province said that conflict has ended, and things have returned to normal in Balkhab district and across the province.
“There is no problem right now in Balkhab, if the countries sympathetically assist people in Balkhab district, we will make contact to take the aid to the people,” said Mohammad Yaqoob Abdul Rahman Aqa, the governor of Sar-e-Pul province.
Meanwhile, local officials in Bamiyan province denied the presence of Balkhab’s displaced people in Bamyan.
“The governor, and top security officials of Bamyan province visited various areas in Yakawlang 1 district and Yakawlang 2. There are no displaced people here, this is all propaganda and groundless,” said Saifulrahman Mohammadi, head of the information and culture department of Bamiyan province.—TOLO
