The World Food Program reported that the drought situation in Kandahar province and Zabul province were desparate. The Koochis had lost up to 80% of their cattle and irrigation systems built to collect rainwater had dried up. Apricot and almond trees had withered and were without fruit. Camels were dying. Since February, the WFP had been feeding 30,000 families in the region and planned on adding another 10,000 families in May. The WFP was offering Afghans additional flour as an incentive if they remain in their villages.
In Afghanistan, Taliban forces thwarted Northern Alliance offensives on the Bagram Air Base]], Kala Masroor, and Ghorband front, killing six and arresting 18.
In Kabul, Afghanistan, a 6-member Finnish parliamentary delegation visited the Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was not invited to the two-day summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Islamabad, Pakistan. Ministers met to discuss transportation and communication.
Dozens of Afghans awaiting the decision of their requests for asylum staged a demonstration in front of the Parliament House in Stockholm, Sweden. They called on officials to quicken their requests for immigration and positively respond to them.
Under a decree by Supreme Leader Mulla Mohammad Omar, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan released approximately 300 opposition prisoners from the Pulicharkhi jail in central Kabul. Many of those released were elderly. The decree was described as a goodwill gesture to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Afghanistan's communist government in 1992. About 1,500 prisoners remained in the jail.
Northern Alliance forces captured three Taliban military posts in Parwan province. Five of Taliban militiamen were killed in the attack. The Taliban claimed these offensives were illegal under international rules because they occurred during an agreed cease fire meant to allow the U.N to carry out a poliovaccination campaign. The Taliban voiced concerns that the U.N. made no condemnation of the breach by the Northern Alliance.
Swarms of locusts descended on drought-hit wheat crops and fruit orchards in Baghlan province, Afghanistan.
The Revolutionary Association of the Afghan Women appealed to Pakistan to change its policy towards the Taliban and to condemn Taliban atrocities against Afghan women.
In Dushanbe, Tajikistan, U.N Special Envoy for Afghanistan Frances Venderill held peace talks with Northern Alliance commander Ahmed Shah Masood, former Nangarhar province governor Haji Abdul Qadeer and former member of the ousted Rabbani government Syed Hussain Anwari.
UNICEF announced that over the past three weeks the measles had killed nearly 100 children in Tolak district, Ghor province, Afghanistan, and over 50 children in Yaftalafain district, Badakhshan province, bringing the toll of the outbreak to more than 1000. The outbreak first erupted in Dara-e-Souf district, Samangan province in January. UNICEF dispatched vaccine and other medicines to the areas.
A six-month repatriation program designed by Iran and the UNHCR for Afghanrefugees began. Under the agreement, 3000 refugees would be repatriated to Afghanistan every week.