KABUL, OCT 22, SPA -- The Afghan government and theUnited Nations appealed Sunday for US$43 million (¤34million) in aid for 1.9 million people facing foodshortages because of severe drought, reported ap. Clashes between NATO troops and militants, meanwhile, left15 insurgents dead on Saturday in Afghanistan's restivesouth, the alliance said. Because of extreme drought conditions, 1.9 million peoplewill need food assistance, 200,000 more than estimated inJuly, a U.N. statement said. A similar appeal for US$76.4million (¤60.5 million) in aid in June resulted indonations of about half that amount. «We urge donor countries to step forward with pledgesthat will enable us to provide vital food and otheressential living items as we approach the winter months,»said Ameerah Haq, deputy head of the U.N. AssistanceMission in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is facing a shortfall in this year's wheatharvest because of the prolonged drought, particularly inthe north and northwest of the country. Agriculture accounts for 52 percent of the impoverishednation's gross domestic product, and wheat comprises 80percent of cereal production. The appeal includes planned assistance for an estimated20,000 families displaced by fighting in the southernprovinces of Uruzgan, Helmand and Kandahar, the U.N. said. Southern Afghanistan has seen the worst spate of violencesince the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that ousted the Taliban. Thousands of people _ mostly militants _ have been killedand many more displaced as a result of fighting betweeninsurgents and NATO and Afghan forces this year. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/397550