Military

DATE=10/07/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= AID TO THE AFGHANS (L)

NUMBER=2-281493

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-S is air dropping food and other humanitarian goods to the Afghan people. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports U-S officials say they are confident supplies will not be distributed in areas where they can be easily picked up by the Taleban.

TEXT: Huge C-17 cargo planes began dropping food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies to remote areas of Afghanistan after Sunday's air strikes began.

/// NATSIOS ACT ///

Our major objective right now is to lower the death rate and the famine and get as much food into the remote areas of the country before the snows come.

/// END ACT //

U-S-A-I-D Administrator Andrew Natsios tells V-O-A the daily rations are being dropped in areas where they will reach the people who need it and are not likely to fall into the hands of the Taleban or its supporters.

/// SECOND NATSIOS ACT ///

It's very unlikely in the areas where we are dropping food in that that will happen.

/// END ACT ///

Written in English on yellow plastic packets with an American flag are the words "This food is a gift from the United States of America".

/// THIRD NATSIOS ACT ///

This aid should be a clear evidence to the Afghan people that the United States is not their enemy.

/// END ACT ///

Assistant Secretary of State for Refugees Alan Krezcko calls this aid and hundreds of millions of dollars in additional relief pledged by other countries evidence that the world, while fighting terrorism, wants to help the Afghan people.

/// KREZCKO ACT ///

We all realize the Afghan people are not the cause of this problem. They've suffered under the Taleban and while we want to fight terrorism, we also want to help the Afghan people.

/// END ACT ///

The United States is already the largest donor of food aid to Afghanistan, and pledged some 320 million dollars in additional aid last week. These air drops as well as distribution of food aid through non-governmental organizations on the ground is expected to continue for some time. (SIGNED)

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