Letters

Plight of Afghan people must not be forgotten

EDITORWe are deeply concerned about the potential humanitarian consequences of war in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world with a life expectancy of only 43 years, and a death rate in those under 5 of 257 per 1000 live births.¹ Drought and conflict in the region and have already generated over four million displaced people. Since the attack on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon thousands more have left Afghanistan's cities, making the situation even worse. The withdrawal of all international aid, including essential food supplies provided by the World Food Programme, owing to the threat of military action, is most likely to result in famine and increased death rates in the camps for internally displaced people. The human impact, particularly on children, could dwarf even the death toll arising from the terrorist attacks.

We therefore urge the UK government to give priority to protecting the health of the Afghan population to prevent a further humanitarian disaster.

Ben Armstrong, head, environmental epidemiology unit. 
Michel Coleman, head, cancer and public health unit. 
Clive Davies, head, disease control and vector biology unit. 
Diana Elbourne, head, medical statistics unit. 
Astrid Fletcher, head, epidemiology unit. 
Emily Grundy, head, centre for population studies. 
Andy Haines, dean. 
Andy Hall, head, infectious disease epidemiology unit. 
Betty Kirkwood, head, public health intervention research unit. 
Donna Lamping, head, health services research unit. 
Michael Miles, head, pathogen molecular biology and biochemistry unit. 
Ian Roberts, professor of epidemiology and public health, public health intervention research unit
Egbert Sondorp, senior lecturer, public health and humanitarian aid. 
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London

The authors are writing in a personal capacity.