05 November 1999
Text: Rubin: U.S. Is Concerned About Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan
(Calls on Taliban to cooperate with efforts to prevent catastrophe) (680) The United States has called on the Taliban, and all other factions involved in the continuing conflict in Afghanistan, to cooperate with international efforts to assist Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) in Northern Afghanistan who face a serious humanitarian crisis. "Up to 65,000 persons displaced by the military tactics of the Taliban in fighting since this summer are currently taking refuge in the opposition-controlled Panshir Valley. Another 80,000 have been displaced in the Kunduz/Takhar area to the north of the Panshir. As winter rapidly approaches these people face serious shortages of food and shelter," State Department Spokesman James P. Rubin said November 4. Rubin said the United States has pledged $575,000 in response to this crisis and is considering additional contributions which will likely total over $1 million. "This year we provided ICRC with $7.8 million for its South Asia programs, the bulk of which is used to respond to conflict victims and IDP's in Afghanistan. U.S. assistance for Afghans inside and outside their country in this past fiscal year totals over $70 million." "The Taliban, in particular, must cooperate with the international effort to assist these displaced people," Rubin said, because "They control much of the overland access to the areas affected, and their military policies are in large part responsible for creating the displaced population that is destitute and has no homes to return to." Following is the text Rubin's statement: (begin text) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman November 4, l999 STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN AFGHANISTAN: HUMANITARIAN CRISIS We are concerned that a serious humanitarian crisis is at hand in northern Afghanistan. Up to 65,000 persons displaced by the military tactics of the Taliban in fighting since this summer are currently taking refuge in the opposition-controlled Panshir Valley. Another 80,000 have been displaced in the Kunduz/Takhar area to the north of the Panshir. As winter rapidly approaches these people face serious shortages of food and shelter. These Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) are being assisted by the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and a number of NGOs. Less than one quarter of the 4000 tons of food the World Food Program wants to send to the Panshir Valley before travel is severely limited by the weather has been delivered. Assessment teams in the North have still not been able to provide full reports. All plans to assist displaced people are undermined by uncertainty about future fighting. The United States has joined the international effort to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. We have pledged $575,000 in response to this crisis and are considering additional contributions which will likely total over $1 million. This year we provided ICRC with $7.8 million for its South Asia programs, the bulk of which is used to respond to conflict victims and IDP's in Afghanistan. U.S. assistance for Afghans inside and outside their country in this past fiscal year totals over $70 million. Such help cannot be effective unless it is supported by the factions involved in the continuing conflict. The Taliban, in particular, must cooperate with the international effort to assist these displaced people. They control much of the overland access to the areas affected, and their military policies are in large part responsible for creating the displaced population that is destitute and has no homes to return to. We call upon the Taliban, and all other factions, to fully support relief efforts including the creation of a safe corridor to deliver food, fuel and relief supplies to those in need. We also urge countries having influence in Afghanistan, especially Pakistan, to press the factions to provide such support. Beyond this, the Afghan factions owe it to the people of Afghanistan to end the fighting now and arrive at a political settlement that will produce a representative government capable of rebuilding Afghanistan. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
