The World - News from Jan. 24, 1989

The Soviet military stepped up emergency airlifts to the capital of Afghanistan to ease severe food shortages it blamed on hoarding and inefficiency by local authorities. Soviet officials said 400 to 500 tons of flour were arriving daily on a dozen flights from the Soviet cities of Tashkent and Fergana, both about an hour from the capital of Kabul by plane. Observers said the supplies had an immediate impact on the food shortage, which also was blamed partly on disruption of road supply convoys by Muslim guerrillas. It was unclear whether the Soviets would be able to mount food airlifts after their troops withdraw from Afghanistan by Feb. 15 as expected.