UN Sends Shipment Of Winter Gear To Aid Displaced Afghans

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday sent a shipment of 33 tons (29.9 tonnes) of supplies to help Afghans prepare for the cold winter ahead, according to footage provided by the agency.

The aid, which mostly includes winterization kits for displaced Afghans, arrived in Kabul via a chartered plane. According to a UNHCR press release, there are two other chartered flights are scheduled to arrive with aid later this week. The kits provide flooring and insulation, particularly for those living in makeshift dwellings, the press release added.

"This year for example, about 18.4 million people were in need of assistance. Now, with this winter coming up, we are forecasting by next year, 24.4 million people who are going to require food, shelters, health and nutrition. It's very urgent that we need to provide support," said senior emergency coordinator for UNHCR Afghanistan Takeshi Moriyama.

The UNHCR had previously calculated about 50,000 Afghans from different provinces were displaced because of recent conflicts and have moved to Kabul. The chilly weather underlines the urgency in getting assistance to thousands of displaced people, many having fled from the provinces and are sleeping in tents or improvised accommodation around the city.

Even before the Taliban's victory over the Western-backed government in Kabul two months ago, more than 18 million Afghans, or about half the population, needed humanitarian aid, according to the UNHCR.