Military

DATE=11/15/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=RED CROSS / AFGHANISTAN (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-283197

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=GENEVA

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The International Committee of the Red Cross says that with the rapid changes taking place in Afghanistan, greater attention must be paid to protecting prisoners of war and Afghan civilians. V-O-A's Dale Gavlak reports from Geneva.

TEXT: Red Cross workers in Afghanistan say they fear for the safety of people in more remote parts of the country.

Alberto Cairo is one of the first I-C-R-C staff members to return to Afghanistan. He is now in Kabul and on Wednesday spoke by satellite link with I-C-R-C headquarters in Geneva. He says the Red Cross is talking with the warring parties to make sure that international humanitarian law is being upheld.

/// CAIRO ACT ///

Now we are negotiating visits to prisoners, to the new prisoners that we find with every change of regime. But we hope to do as much as we can because the needs are huge.

/// END ACT ///

The director of I-C-R-C's work in Asia, Jean-Michel Monod, says the organization is trying to trace and identify prisoners to ensure their protection.

/// MONOD ACT 1 ///

We are in the process of contacting as many commanders, people in charge, as possible to first urge them to keep these prisoners, treat these prisoners decently. As of course, as soon as we have the manpower to do so, we will see these people, talk to these people and assist them if there is a need.

/// END ACT ///

The Red Cross says it is also concerned about hundreds of thousands of Afghan civilians who are living in the countryside. Mr. Monod says many of them are in danger because they are moving around.

/// MONOD ACT 2 ///

There are a lot of people right now on the move in parts of the country where fighting is not taking place anymore. We are expecting higher incidents of mine injuries and death caused by landmines over the coming weeks and months.

/// END ACT ///

Red Cross officials say the humanitarian challenge in Afghanistan is likely to increase in the coming weeks, but they say they are determined to do whatever they can to help the Afghan people. (Signed)

NEB/DG/KL/JWH