Needs of Afghanis as important as security: NGOs

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Meeting the basic needs of Afghanistan's people is as important as improving security, non-government groups said Tuesday after a U.N. conference.

More than 8.5 million people are chronically vulnerable to malnutrition and illness, and delegates from almost 90 countries and organizations agreed at the Afghanistan conference in The Hague to help boost agriculture, trade and infrastructure.

"They cannot solve these things in one day, but I believe this is a good chance for the Afghan community," said Eng Sayed Jawed, chairman of the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief, which addressed the conference.

More than 50 percent of the Afghan people live below the poverty line and more troops in Afghanistan will not achieve peace and stability alone, Jawed said.

U.S. President Barack Obama has promised to deploy an extra 17,000 combat troops to Afghanistan to quell a Taliban insurgency. Conference delegates outlined four priorities for the country -- strengthened security, enhanced regional cooperation, improved economic growth and stronger institutions.

"Delegates emphasized that effective, well-funded civilian programs were as necessary as additional military forces and training," the statement said.

Oxfam International said this was a positive signal to the Afghan people that the international community was still committed to the country.

"The big question is, how are they going to achieve all of this?" Oxfam spokesman Ruud Huurman said.

Oxfam said 8.5 million Afghans were chronically vulnerable and a deterioration in conditions could lead to food shortages and jeopardize their long-term health. Worsening violence threatened a serious humanitarian situation, it said.

"The conflict is only part of the problem," Farah Karimi, executive director of Oxfam in the Netherlands, said in a statement. "Stability and prosperity will only occur if there are immediate efforts to improve the lives of ordinary Afghans."

A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on the sidelines of the conference the new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan provided for increased development assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan, but focused on the fight against terrorism.

"With improved security you will have development. Unless you do development, you can't bring stability. So we have to focus on both," he said.

(Editing by Robert Woodward)