ISLAMABAD, 22 January (IRIN) Following the establishment of an interim government after the fall of the Taliban, incidents of banditry have been reported in northern Afghanistan, impeding relief efforts in the area, aid workers said Tuesday. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), armed ethnic Uzbeks stole up to 40 mt of food aid intended for the predominantly Pashtun, drought-affected population in the Qaiser area of northern Faryab province on Thursday after beating up aid agency staff and smashing vehicles.

"The bandits are using ethnic tensions as a pretext for looting," spokesman for Khalid Mansour said. The WFP and its partners distributed some 700 mt of food in the area prior to the attack.

The WFP has asked local authorities in the region to investigate the incident. In another incident last week, gunmen took away some 40 mt of wheat in the northern Samangan province. Local authorities maintained that the incident was a misunderstanding, and that the men were expecting another food convoy.

The WFP said it appreciated getting help from local authorities in Samangan and Balkh provinces. The two provinces are largely controlled by forces loyal to General Abdul Rashid Dostum, the deputy defense minister in the Afghan interim administration.

© 2002 UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs