At least 56 people have been killed and scores more are missing after severe flooding in northwestern Afghanistan this week, and NATO airlifted emergency aid on Saturday, officials said. Relief workers and the governor of Badghis province, Mohammad Nasim Tokhi, said at least 50 people were still missing and more than 1,000 people had been made homeless.

NATO sent a reconstruction team to the worst-affected areas and flew in fresh supplies on Saturday. "It s the things that will help people the most -- medical supplies, blankets, the things that will keep them warm at night," said NATO spokesman Major Luke Knittig.

Heavy rain at the start of winter has destroyed about 10 villages in Badghis and 150 homes in neighbouring Herat province. There were no early reports of casualties in Herat. Afghanistan has been hit by heavy snow and rain in recent days.
(Planet Ark, 20/11/2006)