Afghanistan faces humanitarian crisis

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the worldwith more than half of the population living below the povertyline and millions of Afghans facing constant food shortages.

About 1,000 people died in the last, exceptionally severewinter marked by bitter cold and heavy snowfall.

"This is a race against time, the international communityneeds to respond quickly before winter when conditionsdeteriorate," Matt Waldman, the head of policy in Afghanistanfor Oxfam, said in a statement.

"If the response is slow or insufficient, people could beforced to sell assets or leave their homes and villages, andthere could be a further deterioration of stability," he said.

Oxfam said Dai Kundi province in central Afghanistan may befacing the worst conditions in more than 20 years, and similarconditions could be found in other provinces.

Many areas in Afghanistan are virtually inaccessible inwinter because of snow, poor roads and worsening security,hindering the delivery of aid and food.

In a letter to international development ministers aroundthe world, Oxfam has called for a "major humanitarian response"after a poor take-up of its appeal in July for $404 million(222 million pounds).

While Britain, the United States, Canada and the EuropeanCommission have already committed funds, many more have yet tocontribute to the appeal which has reached only one fifth oftarget, said Oxfam.

Staff shortages mean there are also not enough people toorganise and coordinate the required aid effort, Oxfam said.

Afghanistan relies heavily on international aid with around90 percent of its spending coming from foreign donors. Drought,rising food prices as well as spreading insecurity have allcontributed to a worsening humanitarian situation in thewar-torn country.

(Writing by Jonathon Burch; Editing by Tony Austin)