Some relief officials say they believe that not more than 1 percent of the population has safe water.

But relief officials have not been able to figure out what to do with the guards.

He then recommended going along with their conditions, relief officials said.

Some relief officials do not agree, saying they fear violence from troops.

United Nations relief officials also tried but gave up, saying it was too dangerous.

Relief officials expressed hope that those 1,000 people would make it across later.

Relief officials said those plans were at the preliminary stage.

"We can see Afghanistan on the other side of the river," one relief official said.

"People don't want to leave their home areas," he said, so the military and other relief officials "are trying to get the housing to them."

In both places, relief officials said, people lack food and shelter.