The Irish aid organisation, Goal, has been forced to move its staff out of Afghanistan after the Mazar-i-Sharif region in the north, where they were based, was bombed on Sunday night.
Mr Ray Jordan, Goal's co-ordinator in Afghanistan, confirmed that the seven Irish aid workers who remained in Afghanistan until now, had moved all operations to neighbouring Turkmenistan after the air strikes.
"Security is our number one concern for all our staff, but at the moment we're happy that we are safe enough. Our biggest problem is that we only have a small window of opportunity to get aid to these people before winter," said Mr Jordan, who added that the mood was tense and strong anti-western feeling was evident in certain elements.
Despite the military strikes, the Irish aid agency Concern sent two workers into Afghanistan yesterday morning. However, a spokesman for the agency pointed out that both were sent to the north-east, which is protected by the Northern Alliance, and assured their families the area was safe.
A spokeswoman for Tr≤caire, Ms Caroline Lynch, said the agency had three workers in Peshwar in Pakistan where the mood was extremely tense.
Irish and international aid agencies have all expressed concern about the safety of Afghans who were working on aid projects in the country. While most of the foreign aid workers left Afghanistan after the Taliban's announcement that it could not guarantee their security if the US retaliated, agencies are finding it difficult to contact Afghan co-workers who are administering any aid relief brought into the country.
Oxfam International, which works with 140 local staff, has welcomed the offers of humanitarian aid from the US but called for the assistance to be channelled through the UN to protect Afghan aid workers.
"We hope that emergency assistance will be channelled through the UN as far as is possible, so that it is demonstrably impartial and separate from military action. Aid workers would be put in a difficult position, and life-saving aid could be impeded, if aid distributions are seen to be linked to military action," said Ms Aideen Friel, a spokeswoman for Oxfam.
While Christian Aid, Goal and Oxfam have expressed concern for their Afghan aid workers, Concern has been able to keep regular contact with the 70 Afghans who work with its organisation.
Agencies yesterday urged the international community to persuade the countries bordering Afghanistan to open their borders to the millions in need of assistance.
Mr John O'Shea, a spokesman for Goal, said that bordering countries have not been receptive to foreign aid workers and the refugee sites selected to deal with the expected influx of Afghans are totally inhospitable.
"The real need is going to be in Afghanistan but we cannot take a chance with our workers. UN food has ceased and while food drops are welcomed, can six million displaced people be fed from the air?"