Helmand lacking aid, agencies say

NAWZAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Humanitarian assistance is not reaching refugees displaced by the conflict in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, aid agencies say.

The United Nations says it has no operations in restive Helmand province but is working with regional partners to target aid to displaced communities.

Officials with the Afghan Red Crescent Society say they have no resources to help the displaced, appealing to the International Committee of the Red Cross for urgent assistance.

Ahmadullah Ahmadi, the provincial head of the ARCS, says fighting by Afghan and international forces has displaced thousands of families from the region, the U.N. humanitarian news agency IRIN reports.

"Our volunteers from Nawzad (in northern Helmand) have reported that people have sought refuge in nearby villages and some have moved to (the provincial capital) Lashkar Gah," he says. "They are temporarily displaced."

NATO officials announced a military push into Helmand province last week in an effort to clear the area of extremists.

Provincial officials said they would try to help area residents once NATO ends the operation. William Pelletier, a NATO press liaison, tells IRIN there was no displacement in the south.

"The area was empty before we started the operation there," he says.