DATE=7/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=W-F-P / AFGHANISTAN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264245
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations World Food Program says it
is concerned that renewed fighting in Afghanistan
could interrupt its operations. Lisa Schlein reports
from Geneva the W-F-P is assisting millions of people
severely affected by drought in large parts of
Afghanistan.
TEXT: The United Nations estimates eight to 12-
million people in the West, South, and Northwestern
parts of Afghanistan are affected by the worst drought
since 1971. As many as four-million are classified as
severely affected.
Christiane Berthiaume of the World Food Program says
the agency can assist millions of people in urgent
need of food. But, she says access to the needy might
be blocked if fighting breaks out again between the
Taliban and opposition forces. She says last week's
fighting near the capital, Kabul, acted as a warning
for the agency.
/// BERTHIAUME ACT ///
So far, we have been able to bring food into
these parts of Afghanistan that are affected by
the drought. Insecurity is not helping us. We
are very concerned that if the fight erupts
again, that could really put our operation in
danger at a time when we can not afford any
delay in the delivery of food to these affected
people.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Berthiaume says thousands of drought-stricken
Afghanis might head for Pakistan if they can not get
anything to eat. She says this would simply compound
existing problems because Pakistan is also suffering
from drought.
She says the agency is delivering one-quarter-million
tons of urgent food aid; three-times more than what
was brought into the country last year.
/// 2ND BERTHIAUME ACT ///
So far, we have not had any report of deaths
because of malnutrition or as a result of the
drought. What we know is that 80-percent of the
animals have died, which is quite serious for
these people who do not have so much. They are
poor people and their animals are their assets.
So, when they die, they have nothing, no other
resources except international food aid.
/// END ACT ///
Meanwhile, the World Food Program is assessing the
needs of millions of people also suffering from severe
drought in neighboring Tajikistan. The W-F-P says
this year's harvest in Tajikistan was lower than it
has been for years. The agency estimates 40-percent
of the country already suffers from chronic
malnutrition. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/GE/RAE
10-Jul-2000 07:54 AM EDT (10-Jul-2000 1154 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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