Military

DATE=10/30/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=UN/AFGHAN REFUGEES (L-Only)

NUMBER=2-282458

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=GENEVA

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-N relief agencies say they fear too little food and medicine are reaching Afghans as winter approaches. Dale Gavlak reports from Geneva that the U-N health agency is also concerned about cases of a virulent form of malaria in eastern Afghanistan.

TEXT: The U-N children's agency says 15 of its convoys, carrying blankets, food, and medicine have made it into Afghanistan during the past month. But UNICEF spokesman Wivina Belmonte says it is not enough.

/// BELMONTE ACT ///

In the past four-weeks, we have helped meet basic emergency needs for one-and-a-quarter-million children and women. But the truth is that, if things continue to unfold as they are currently, as many as 100-thousand more children are expected to die this winter than last year.

/// END BELMONTE ACT ///

The International Organization for Migration says it is providing blankets and kerosene lamps to the town of Herat in western Afghanistan to help ward off extreme cold. But those supplies will only be enough for half the 200-thousand displaced Afghans sheltering there.

Cold temperatures and possible starvation are not the only foes the Afghans may encounter this winter. The World Health Organization says it is concerned about the possible spread of a virulent form of malaria in eastern Afghanistan, near Jalalabad.

W-H-O spokesman Gregory Hartl says the health agency is investigating whether the incident is an outbreak or a normal pattern of the disease for this time of year.

/// HARTL ACT ///

Since Friday, we have been receiving reports on an increased number of cases of falciparum malaria in Nangrahar province, near Jalalabad. During the month of September, 269-children were hospitalized. ... more than half with serious conditions, including cerebral malaria.

/// END ACT ///

Meanwhile, the U-N refugee agency says it cannot help large numbers of Afghans fleeing the country into neighboring Pakistan, because they are afraid to register as refugees.

/// OPT /// U-N-H-C-R spokesman Chris Janowski says an estimated 100-thousand refugees do not officially "exist," although Pakistani authorities are probably aware of the movement of people, and tolerate it to some degree.

/// JANOWSKI ACT // OPT ACT ///

They are afraid to officially show up in Pakistan, because they are afraid they will be sent back to Afghanistan. They would rather go into the "woodwork" (disappear), and not ask for aid or anything.

/// END ACT // END OPT ///

The U-N-H-C-R says there is little the agency can do to help refugees who do not register. (SIGNED)

NEB/DG/TW/RAE