Epidemic of disease causing sores in Afghan capital (BBC, Jan 26)

A doctor from a Dutch aid organisation says the Afghan capital, Kabul, is seeing an epidemic of a disease which causes sores on the hands and face.

The doctor, Hugh Reyburn of the Health International organisation, says the disease known as Leishmaniaisis affects more than five percent of Kabul's population.

He says that sanitary problems and the mass movement of people suffering from the disease have added to its spread since fighting broke out in Kabul in 1992.

Correspondents say the disease is not fatal, but that the sores leave permanent scars.