Afghans Flee Drought and Famine
386204 12: Afghan families stand outside after sleeping in nearly freezing temperatures without shelter February 23, 2001 at the Minarets refugee camp in Herat, Afghanistan. Some of these children and their families have been waiting nearly five days to be registered by an aid agency in order to receive emergency rations and shelter. The United Nations Office for Afghanistan has estimated 80,000 Afghans have arrived from western provinces to Herat at the rate of 25 - 50 families per day. Coordination of relief aid has been hampered by frequent disagreements and confusion with the ruling Taliban government. Figures vary from 150 to 450 people dying due to exposure and respiratory illnesses since mid-January, 2001. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Liaison)