ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: The United Nations on Monday expressed concern about deteriorating law and order situation in Afghanistan hampering the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance to six million people facing starvation.

Speaking at a news conference, World Food Programme spokesperson Khalid Mansour said the security situation in Afghanistan continued to be complicated by reports of rising criminal activity, looting and highway robberies in the east and parts of the northwest.

He said that snow and winter conditions also posed logistical problems in delivering food assistance in northeastern Afghanistan.

The WFP spokesperson said that 437 tons of food were sent to Kunduz over the weekend for the first time since September. The supply would be enough to feed more than 51,000 people.

Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif are two other pockets of hunger, where nearly 500,000 people are facing starvation due to non-delivery of food since September.

Mr Mansour said that Kandahar was an important area of concern to the WFP in terms of security. Once the area stabilizes, the WFP would resume its activities in the region, he said.