DATE=11/24/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHANISTAN - U-N APPEAL
NUMBER=2-256503
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations has launched an appeal
(Wednesday) for 221-million dollars for humanitarian aid
for Afghanistan, which the U-N says is one of the most
impoverished nations on earth. The annual appeal comes
less than two weeks after the U-N Security Council imposed
sanctions on Afghanistan's Taleban movement for failing to
hand over terrorism suspect Osama bin Laden. From
Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.
TEXT: The acting U-N co-ordinator for Afghanistan, Ahmed
Farah, says the United Nations wants to spend 221-million
dollars in the country, which has one of the highest infant
mortality rates in the world. He says the money is needed
to provide emergency humanitarian relief and to further
encourage Afghan refugees to return to their homes. The
United Nations says there are still more than 2.5 million
Afghan refugees outside the country.
/// Farah Act ///
20-years of conflict has reduced the country to one
of the most impoverished nations on earth. The
statistics are grim. An entire generation of Afghans
has lost the opportunity to live in peace and dignity
in their own country. Regrettably, the threat remains
for future generations.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Farah, who is critical of U-N sanctions against the
Taleban, fears that the U-N move could lead to food
shortages in the country and will eventually discourage
refugees from returning to Afghanistan.
/// FARAH ACT ///
Personally, I am not enamored with sanctions. It
normally hurts people who are not the targets for the
sanctions. Let us say that these sanctions lead to
shortages of food stuffs, it could lead to a certain
amount of low-level criminality and instability and
maybe a certain amount of lack of control by the
authorities and this would give second thoughts to
refugees as to whether they should repatriate or not
repatriate.
/// END ACT ///
The United Nations sanctions, which took effect November
14th, call on member states to freeze overseas assets of
the Taleban and to ban international flights of Afghan
airline - Ariana. The sanctions, which are backed by the
United States, are designed to press the Taleban to hand
over terrorism suspect Osama bin Laden to the United
States, or a third country, to stand trial.
The Saudi militant, who lives in Afghanistan, is accused of
masterminding the twin bombing of U-S embassies in Africa
last year, which killed more than two-hundred people.
(Signed)
NEB/AG/KL
24-Nov-1999 08:26 AM EDT (24-Nov-1999 1326 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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