DATE=11/29/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=AFGHANS SURVIVING
NUMBER=5-44859
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=KABUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Stories of survival are common in poor
countries around the world. But few places have
suffered as long as Afghanistan, where 20 years of war
and isolation from the rest of the world has wrecked
the country's economy and left its infrastructure in
shambles. As V-O-A's Scott Anger reports from the
capital, Kabul, Afghans are surviving the dire
situation as best they can.
/// Ambient sound of street, fade up then
......... under ///
TEXT: On a busy street in Kabul, Syed Wahdat's shop
is filled with stories of Afghans who have run out of
hope and are selling everything they own in order to
survive.
/// Wahdat Act ///
Yes, yes that one, the sugar cans. I bought
them from two children. They don't have shoes
and their clothes are very old. Those were the
last things from their home.
/// End Act ///
Clocks, refrigerators, heaters and pots are stacked
high inside Mr. Wahdat's shop, which is a brightly
painted shipping container that once brought goods
from Europe. The shop owner says many people turn to
traders like him when they run out of money and have
nothing left to eat.
Not long ago, he says, three women asked him to come
to their home to buy their possessions.
/// Wahdat Act Two ///
Six months ago, I went to a house to buy things
from their house. There were only three women,
without any men. When I bought their things,
they were crying, they were very emotional.
They don't have food or money, they will die.
/// End Act ///
Afghans say they will have to find more ways to adapt
now that the United Nations Security Council has
imposed sanctions against their country. The U-N move
is aimed at forcing the Taleban - which controls 90
percent of the country -- to hand over accused
terrorist Osama bin Laden for trial. But the hard-
line Islamic movement failed to meet last week's
deadline, so the United Nations froze the Taleban's
overseas assets and banned Afghanistan's national
airline, Ariana, from flying outside the country. The
airline has been used by traders and aid groups to
carry food, mail and medicines into the country.
Although the sanctions will not directly affect
humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, concern is growing
among the people that prices for food and fuel will
rise as winter approaches, making life more difficult
for the country's 21-million people.
U-N coordinator for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan,
Erick De Mul, says the Afghan people are survivors.
/// De Mul Act ///
Oh, they're incredible. They are incredible,
resilient and resourceful. You have to admire
them for that. They seem to be able to eke out
an existence with very limited means. They are
very strong.
///End Act///
/// Ambienct sound of bazaar, sewing
machine///
In a corner of Kabul's bustling central district is a
tailor shop where two brothers help each other sew -
one pedals a bicycle to power a sewing machine run by
his older brother. The owner of the shop, Ghulam
Hazrat, says he cannot afford to pay for the
electricity, which costs nearly 25-dollars per month.
His income is less than three-dollars a day.
Mr. Hazrat says after 20 years of war, such adapting
is part of life.
///Hazrat Act in Dari with translation ///
In the last two decades, we've had many problems
but we are still surviving. Everyone knows
Afghans can survive.
/// End Act ///
But there are limits to how much people can adapt to
adversity. Jolyon Leslie, senior regional coordinator
for the United Nations humanitarian activities in
Afghanistan, says pushing Afghans into a corner with
sanctions doesn't achieve what the international
community says it wants for the country - which is a
stable and peaceful Afghanistan.
/// Leslie Act ///
The international community needs to make up its
mind whether it wants a country of dependents,
which will create a sort of humanitarian dust
bin - with no disrespect intended for the Afghan
people, they are very resilient - or is it going
to continue to be battled in by outside
interests. All we can do is reassure the Afghan
people, primarily, but secondly the authorities,
that we will try to keep the aid flowing. As
long as there isn't a serious climate of
instability, which ironically, of course, may
well be spawned by things like sanctions.
/// End Act ///
Protests against the sanctions occurred in most of the
country's major cities. But Taleban officials have
urged all Afghans to use restraint and to stop
demonstrating against U-N sanctions.
Merchants say now that Ariana Airlines cannot bring in
food stuffs and merchandise, prices are sure to
increase. Tougher border controls with Afghanistan by
its neighbors will drive prices higher as smuggled
goods disappear from store shelves.
The message from the Taleban is clear - accept the
situation. Taleban leader Mullah Omar has issued a
statement asking Afghans not to rely on the United
Nations or the United States for help. He says people
should rely instead on God. (Signed)
NEB/SA/gm
29-Nov-1999 06:12 AM EDT (29-Nov-1999 1112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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