Aid agencies in Afghanistan running out of money

KABUL, Afghanistan -- As refugees flood home, U.N. relief agencies helping Afghans recover from nearly two decades of war are being forced to suspend or curtail relocation and feeding operations because money is running out, aid representatives warned Sunday.

Last week, the U.N. World Food Program said its food-delivery pipeline had been threatened by funding shortfalls. And on Sunday, the International Organization for Migration announced suspension of its transportation network to return refugees to their hometowns.

The reason cited was the same: Even though international donors are pouring hundreds of millions into building the new Afghanistan, the money is running out -- and fast.

"Overall, what is coming into this country is insufficient," said Nigel Fisher, the U.N.'s deputy special representative for relief, recovery and reconstruction in Afghanistan. "We still have an immediate humanitarian crisis facing us."

While aid agencies often urge donors to give more and warn of imminent shortfalls, the interruption of two major programs in a week suggests the situation is growing more dire.