Japanese nongovernmental organizations are stepping up relief efforts to Afghanistan amid the fall of the Taliban regime and onset of winter.
But distribution will probably be tough because of deteriorating local security and disorder after the Taliban's defeat in many parts of Afghanistan to the Northern Alliance and other forces.
According to the Foreign Ministry, there are 24 Japanese nationals from 10 NGOs in Pakistan. No Japanese working for an NGO has entered Afghanistan since the United States launched military strikes on Oct. 7.
Peace Winds Japan increased the number of its Japanese workers in Pakistan from five to seven last week. They plan to send food, tents and blankets to some 58,000 people in northern and eastern Afghanistan in cooperation with Pakistani NGOs.
"We have obtained reports that the number of deaths from malnutrition has been on the rise in northern Afghanistan, where the winter is freezing," Peace Winds Japan spokeswoman Yuko Yokoyama said. "There are also fears of death from cold. We cannot waste time."
Due to deteriorating security, the Tokyo-based group is considering distributing aid by air.
The group used to use the Taliban as its channel for distribution, but must now negotiate with the Northern Alliance, Yokoyama said.
The Tokyo office of Osaka-based Save the Children Japan said it has made preparations to send food to northern Afghanistan. As soon as the area is secured, its Japanese staff in Pakistan will enter Afghanistan, group members said.
The Association for Aid and Relief, Japan, based in Tokyo, plans to send food via Tajikistan in the north using local NGOs.
Group spokesman Yoshiaki Horie said security is worse than under the Taliban regime, with looting and robbery on the increase.
"It is still difficult for Japanese to enter there. Assistance is urgently needed, but things are going slowly," he said.
