Residents of Afghanistan’s Helmand province to flee their homes due to fierce fighting ongoing in the province between the Afghan forces and the Taliban. According to local authorities, have left their homes about 30 thousand people. They flee to the provincial capital city of Lashkar Gah, which is struggling to cope with the influx of refugees, writes “Kommersant”.
Thousands of residents of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan have left their homes and fled, which led to a humanitarian catastrophe. Recently in the province, fierce fighting between Afghan troops and militants of the “Taliban”. The Taliban control or are fighting in 10 of the 14 districts in Helmand, they are close to the capture of Lashkar Gah..
On Monday, the Afghan Ministry of defence acknowledged that active fighting between the governmental forces and the Taliban are in the area of Nad-e Ali near Lashkar Gah. and that the fighters appeared a few kilometers from the administrative center of the province.
The US air force supporting government troops with air strikes on Taliban positions in Helmand.
On Tuesday, the province said that Lashkar Gah is struggling to cope with the influx of refugees. “About 30 thousand people were forced to leave their homes over the past few weeks. Most of them come in Lashkar Gah. The city difficult to accommodate them. Families, children, women are forced to sleep on the street. We have enough food and clean water. We need urgent help”, — said the press Secretary of the Governor of Helmand , Omar SAVAK.
Residents of Lashkar Gah. also fear the arrival of the Taliban. “The Taliban control all the roads leading to Lashkar Gah. Police posts are dealt one after the other. Everyone is afraid that the capital could fall,” — said the Agency France-Presse, a resident of Haji qayyum.
According to experts, the offensive by the Taliban in Helmand contributes to a record crop of opium this year, sales of which are a source of income for the insurgency. The Helmand is the largest producer of opium poppy in Afghanistan, says “Kommersant”.
In the fighting in the province takes part elite commando group of the “Taliban” Sara Khitta. “This is a well-trained unit with great weapons and modern equipment including night vision devices,” he told AFP one of the commanders of the Taliban in the district of Nad-e Ali.
