KABUL, Afghanistan, (UNHCR) - The UN refugee agency on Tuesday began distributing blankets, sweaters, jerry cans and bags of charcoal to 1,500 of the neediest people in Kabul as part of a countrywide initiative to help some 200,000 vulnerable Afghans cope with the winter. “The beneficiaries of our winter aid programme in Afghanistan are a mix of vulnerable recently returned refugees and internally displaced people, as well as others at particular risk in the cold winter weather,” said Ewen Macleod, UNHCR's representative in Afghanistan.(20 images)
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Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. As temperatures begin to drop around the country, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Afghan government are providing relief supplies to help some 200,000 vulnerable people cope with the harsh winter, including blankets, sweaters, plastic sheets, jerry cans and bags of charcoal. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. UNHCR has pre-positioned winter supplies throughout Afghanistan. More than 177,000 blankets, 60,000 plastic sheets, 60,000 jerry cans and 620,000 items of warm clothing, including shawls, sweaters, shoes and socks have been purchased and sent to UNHCR's regional offices for countrywide distribution, UNHCR officials reported. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. In addition to non-food assistance and heating materials, in certain areas, more than 12,000 vulnerable families (72,000 individuals) will receive a cash voucher worth US$30 to buy heating materials or other items from identified retailers, UNHCR officials said. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Some of the 250 deprived families to receive UNHCR's winter aid in Kabul are returned refugees unable to stay in, or return to, their home villages because of lack of jobs, personal enmities, or because their families have grown so large during years in exile, there is not enough land or shelter for them at home, UNHCR officials reported. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Young girls eat food as displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
A young boy waits as displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
Displaced Afghans wait to receive relief aid from the UNHCR, on Dec. 1, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images / Majid Saeedi
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