ASIA: In Afghanistan agricultural production has recovered strongly but years of civil strife and recurrent droughts have rendered millions of people dependent on food assistance. In DPR Korea, additional pledges are needed to cover emergency relief until the end of the year. Typhoons and an erratic monsoon have seriously damaged infrastructure, displaced millions of people and caused loss of thousands of lives, notably in Bangladesh, China, India and Nepal, while Mongolia, parts of Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been hit by drought. The food situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is grave due to continuing confinement of families under curfews.