IOM yesterday distributed 260 blankets and warm clothing to some
780 vulnerable internally displaced people in Kabul's District 5,
to protect them from the freezing weather in one of the worst
winters on record.

Most of the families, who lost their homes and all their
possessions following their deportation from Iran in 2007, were
living in an open area in makeshift huts made from mud and other
materials donated by neighbours.

"It is really cold here, but what can we do? I didn't even have
a blanket to wrap myself and I have been shaking every night. My
wife is coughing and suffering from high fever," said Ghulam Sakhi,
94, who received one of the packages.

IOM and its partners started distributing winter kits in the
western province of Herat two weeks ago. The operation, funded by
the United States Agency for International Development, distributed
1,200 blankets and 3,600 items of warm clothing to help 2,500
families.

IOM has dispatched a further 1,000 blankets to neighbouring
Farah province for immediate distribution. An additional 350 winter
kits of blankets and warm clothing are en route to Helmand
province. IOM will have also pre-positioned 500 packages in Balkh
and 200 packages in Kunduz provinces by next week. 

IOM is working in close coordination with the Afghan government,
NGOs, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and
various UN agencies including the World Food Programme, United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and United Nations
Children's Fund.

For further information, please contact:

Katsui Kaya

IOM Afghanistan

Tel: +93 (0) 700 185 961

E-mail: "mailto:kkaya@iom.int">kkaya@iom.int