As the aid agency Concern yesterday launched a £1 million emergency appeal for Afghanistan, UNICEF Ireland said it was sending $200,000 (£186,846) in aid to the drought-stricken country.
Concern estimated that almost four million people were threatened by conflict, drought and severe food shortages in the Asian country. The UN said the situation in Afghanistan was "the worst humanitarian crisis in the world". Since last June, more than 800,000 Afghans have been displaced or have fled to Pakistan or Iran.