AFGHAN FAMINE (VOA FEB 3)

(L) By SARAH HORNER/ISLAMABAD

INTRO: THE U-N WORLD FOOD PROGRAM IS GIVING UP THE IDEA OF AIRLIFTING FOOD TO CENTRAL AFGHANISTAN, AFTER REPEATED BOMBINGS OF THE AIRPORT IT WAS USING. AS SARAH HORNER REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, U-N OFFICIALS SAY 160-THOUSAND PEOPLE FACE STARVATION IN THE AREA.

TEXT: THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, BRONEK SYNALKSI, TOLD V-O-A THE SITUATION IN BAMIYAN PROVINCE IS -- PRETTY GRIM. HE SAID SOME VILLAGES IN THE ISOLATED HAZARAJAT AREA HAVE RECEIVED NO SUPPLIES AT ALL AND DEEP SNOW IS PREVENTING EFFORTS TO HELP THEM.

THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM -- THE W-F-P -- BEGAN AIRLIFTING FOOD TO BAMIYAN IN DECEMBER. BUT, THE AIRLIFT WAS SUSPENDED AT THE END OF DECEMBER WHEN THE TALEBAN BOMBED BAMIYAN AIRPORT WHILE A U-N PLANE WAS ON THE RUNWAY.

IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE TALEBAN HAVE CONTINUED BOMBING THE RUNWAY, PROMPTING THE W-F-P TO GIVE UP THE AIRLIFT IDEA ALTOGETHER. MR. SYNALKSI SAID HE IS LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO BRING IN NEEDED SUPPLIES.

ONE ROUTE -- FROM THE TOWN OF PUL-I-KHUMRI -- IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN HAS BEEN ABANDONED BECAUSE INCREASED LAWLESSNESS AND LOOTING HAVE MADE THE ROAD UNUSABLE.

MR. SYNALKSI SAYS AN ALTERNATIVE ROAD ROUTE IS A COMPLICATED OPTION WHICH WILL INVOLVE A LOT OF SNOW CLEARANCE. BUT HE SAYS HE IS REASONABLY OPTIMISTIC THE ROAD WILL BE USEABLE, AND THE W-F-P IS TO DECIDE HOW TO PROCEED DURING A MEETING NEXT WEEK IN ISLAMABAD. THE FOOD CRISIS IN CENTRAL AFGHANISTAN BEGAN A FEW-MONTHS AGO FOLLOWING A LONG BLOCKADE OF THE REGION BY THE TALEBAN, WHO SAY THE SUPPLIES WILL BE USED TO FEED ENEMY SOLDIERS.