Antonio Guterres: UN Secretary General

A UN report said on Monday that the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan had forced 47,404 people to flee their homes since the beginning of 2017.

The UN said that last week, it registered displacement in 22 of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, with the highest numbers in Northern provinces of Kunduz and Baghlan.

According to the document, which is published on a weekly basis, the displacement is due to significant military clashes in Kunduz and Baghlan.

It said that well-resourced families are leaving the city of Kunduz out of fear about the upcoming spring offensive by the Islamist Taliban movement.

The UN expects an estimated 450,000 people to become internally displaced this year.

The UN report also contains new figures on displacement in 2016.

According to the document, 660,639 civilians fled their homes in 2016, a 40-per cent increase compared to 2015. (dpa/NAN)