DATE=8/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHAN DISPLACED (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252867
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations reports huge numbers of
displaced people are arriving in the Afghan capital,
Kabul, from combat areas in the northern and eastern
parts of the country. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports
thousands of people have been forced out of their
homes as a result of fighting between the Taleban
forces and opposition troops.
TEXT: The United Nations estimates nearly 20-thousand
people have arrived in Kabul during the past three or
four-days, about nine-thousand Monday. It says most
of these people made the long trek on foot from the
Shomali plain and the Panjshir Valley north of the
city.
Aid workers report many of the people were in bad
condition when they arrived in the Afghan capital.
A spokeswoman for the U-N Refugee Agency, Judith
Kumin, says these movements of people are different
from earlier ones in which Taleban soldiers forcibly
trucked thousands of women and children into Kabul.
She says these new arrivals consist of people in
family groups, including men.
/// KUMIN ACT ONE ///
In a very discouraging development, the
colleagues also reported that around one-
thousand displaced men from the new arrivals
have apparently been arrested in Kabul by the
Taleban. So, (it is) a very uncertain and fluid
situation.
/// END ACT ///
The International Committee of the Red Cross says its
workers began visiting the arrested men two-days ago.
Red Cross Information Officer Corinne Adam says the
men -- of fighting age -- are being detained in Kabul.
She says Red Cross representatives are registering the
detained men and assessing their psychological and
physical conditions.
/// ADAM ACT ///
We give them also the opportunity to tell us
what happened and how it happened. And, if we
notice some unusual circumstances, or something
that we can complain about, or revert to the
responsible authorities then we do that on the
basis of a confidential report.
/// END ACT ///
The United Nations reports most of the thousands of
new arrivals in Kabul are living with families or
local people. It says aid agencies are working under
difficulty and their ability to help these people is
limited. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/RAE
17-Aug-1999 11:37 AM LOC (17-Aug-1999 1537 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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