Four years ago the Islamic extremist Taliban movement began its fight to control Afghanistan and after a successful campaign against the city of Taloqan, one of the few places that still escaped Taliban control, the Taliban now control more than 90 percent of the country. In the process of conquering Taloqan, however, over 150,000 people fled their homes in the area, creating a crisis situation.
Unfortunately as the fighting between the Taliban and its opponents continues, it is impossible for aid workers to get food, medicine and other supplies into the remote area which in only a few months will be largely cut off from the outside world by the usual harsh winter of the area (in fact part of the Taliban’s motive is precisely to cut off enemy supply lines before the winter sets in).
Source:
Humanitarian crisis brewing in northern Afghanistan, aid group says. The Associated Press, September 13, 2000.