Xinhua - More than half million Afghans are feared to face the danger of famine during the harsh winter in the post-conflict Afghanistan, Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development Hanif Atmar said Tuesday.

"Around 600,000 of our compatriots are estimated to face famine during the winter in 19 provinces as many roads linking the provinces will be closed due to snowfall," Hanif Atmar told journalists at a press conference.

To deal with the situation, he said, his ministry had stored 24, 000 tones of foodstuff to help the destitute in the hours of need.

He said the government had constituted a commission under Vice President Karim Khalili to assist the needy people.

A budget of 13.5 million U.S. dollars has also been allocated to deal with the situation, Atmar added.

Like last year's harsh winter, heavy snowfalls are expected to close several roads and cause problems especially to the inhabitants of the poor central provinces of Ghor, Bamyan and surrounding areas.

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