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07 November 2001

UN Security Council Blames Taliban for Humanitarian Crisis

(UNSC Press statement issued on the Afghan situation) (550)
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- After a briefing on the situation in Afghanistan
November 6, the Security Council issued a statement singling out the
"misrule of the Taliban" as "the underlying cause of the dire
humanitarian circumstances in the country."
In a statement issued by Council President Patricia Durrant of
Jamaica, UN Security Council members expressed grave concern about the
deteriorating humanitarian situation as well as "the continued
obstruction of the Taliban to the provision of humanitarian
assistance.
"They deplored the looting of United Nations offices and the Taliban's
take-over of humanitarian aid sites, including food and supply
warehouses," said Durrant. "They noted that the United Nations and its
agencies were the main providers of humanitarian relief inside
Afghanistan and called on the Taliban not to impede the work of these
agencies."
During the private UNSC session, members were briefed by
Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima who said
that the United Nations' biggest problem in Afghanistan is the
distribution of food to local communities, but the delivery and
distribution of humanitarian assistance was continuing despite
difficult circumstances.
Oshima warned the Council that there will likely be a gap between the
minimum aid required for the country and the amount that the UN can
actually ship and distribute. Nevertheless, he said that plans are
being put in place to ensure that relief supplies are delivered in
anticipation of the coming winter.
Council President Durrant also said that the Council members urge
humanitarian workers "to continue to do all possible to assist the
most vulnerable people of Afghanistan, in particular women, children
and the elderly."
"They also stressed the need to continue to find innovative ways of
delivering much needed supplies to the region and distributing aid to
those in need," she said. "Members urged the international community
to continue its financial support for these efforts and appealed for
accelerated disbursement of funds pledged."
In her annual report to the General Assembly's Third Committee
November 6, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson also
addressed the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, saying that
she is concerned about the plight of civilians, especially the
millions of women, children, and older persons.
"I am particularly concerned at the prospect of retaliatory killings
and other abuses of civilians, if territory changes hands. I am no
less preoccupied by the appalling humanitarian situation, which
constitutes deprivation of such fundamental rights as those of access
to food, shelter, and medical care," Robinson said. "The scale of
deprivation is very serious given the imminent approach of winter and
the effect of the severe drought that has hit Afghanistan over the
last three years."
The high commissioner also blamed the "climate of impunity which has
prevailed for so long in Afghanistan" for the current human rights
situation.
"It is essential that Afghanistan be assisted in ensuring
accountability for the series of massacres and other grave human
rights and humanitarian law abuses perpetrated in recent years," she
said.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)



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