Military

DATE=12/19/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHANISTAN / SECURITY (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-297612

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

INTRO: The head of United Nations refugee operations in Afghanistan has warned that unless the international community follows through on promises of aid, the country is in danger of falling back into chaos. The official spoke to reporters in Geneva and Lisa Schlein was there.

TEXT: The U-N refugee agency's top official in Afghanistan, Filippo Grandi, has many worries. He says he is worried about continued fighting among Afghan warlords, especially in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the country.

In addition, Mr. Grandi says Afghanistan desperately needs international assistance to rebuild its economy, roads, schools and hospitals.

/// GRANDI ACT ///

If there is no money going into the large development programs, then nothing will be sustainable of what we have done the first year to basically stabilize the situation. The big challenge will be to run at the same time next year in 2003 development programs and continuing emergency programs because this is not finished.

/// END ACT ///

The U-N refugee official agrees that problems arising from drought, homelessness and bad health will have to continue to be addressed. But he says that, if Afghanistan is going to have a future, work on rebuilding the country cannot be postponed.

Mr. Grandi says he also is concerned that, in the event of a military campaign to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Afghanistan will suffer.

/// 2nd GRANDI ACT ///

I am just worried that resources will be taken away from the Afghanistan reconstruction. And, I think that the world should remain focused, whatever happens, on the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

/// END ACT ///

The refugee official says that re-building Afghanistan will not only help the country. He says it will aid security and stability in all the countries that surround Afghanistan. (Signed)

NEB/LS/KL/KBK