KABUL – Head of refugees and repatriation department of Farah province onSaturday said over 7,000 families have fled from their homes in theprovince as a result of ongoing skirmishes between the Taliban and securityforces on the outskirts of the city.

Farah refugees and repatriation director Rahmuddin Rigiwal said many ofthese families have left the province as clashes intensify.

Rigiwal said the situation has raised serious concerns and displacedfamilies are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

“Since the start of the battles, nearly 7,100 families have been displacedfrom the districts and remote areas and they have come to Farah city,” saidRigiwal.

Farah residents said they are really worried about the Taliban’s advance onthe city.

“This is the worst situation that we have. We along with our families areawake all night and are afraid that we may get killed,” Noor Ahmad, aresident of Farah said.

“We have left our houses and have fled and now we are living in the worstsituation and so far no one has helped us,” Dawood, another resident ofFarah said.

The security issue and the ongoing battle between Taliban and securityforces in Farah was discussed in parliament on Saturday.

A number of parliament members said if more troops are not deployed to theprovince, Taliban could seize the city.

“Farah’s situation is worryinng and we want government to pay attention tothis and not let the province collapse to the Taliban,” MP Mohammad SarwarOsmani said.

“Farah’s situation is vital in the west zone of the country. If Farah’ssituation deteriorates, other provinces, especially Herat will become,” MPGhulam Farooq Majrooh said.

Afghan interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish meanwhile said a specialoperation has been launched in the province and a number of insurgentsincluding a few commanders have been killed so far.

“We have started our operation in the Khake Safid district and so far 17insurgents including two of their local commanders have been killed. Theoperation will continue untill the Taliban are eliminated,” said Danish.

Although the skirmishes between Taliban and security forces areintensifying and Taliban are advancing on Farah city, the province’sgovernor and police chief have been in Kabul for a few days.

The governor and police chief refused however to comment about thesituation in Farah or about them being in Kabul, but the interior ministrysaid the police chief has been ordered to return to Farah.

On Friday Farah’s deputy governor spoke out about the poor war managementin the province and said in the last week over 50 security force memberswere killed in ongoing battles.

Farah deputy governor Mohammad Younus Rasuli criticized government for itspoor war management and said the Taliban has positioned itself on theoutskirts of Farah city.

“Currently security forces have not made any move to target the insurgentsand our defensive status is not right. In the last week only, over 50security force members have been killed,” said Rasuli.