U.N. paints grim picture of Afghanistan

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, SEPT. 14. As fears of retaliatory strikes against Afghanistan grow, the United Nations has painted a grim picture of the war-ravaged and drought-stricken country.

The U.N., which withdrew its entire international staff involved in various humanitarian programmes, has said that the situation of the Afghan people is ``dramatic''.

It said the deepening humanitarian crisis, with conflict affecting 17 of the 32 provinces, was gravely affecting Afghan civilians. As per the U.N. estimates, there are almost six million vulnerable people inside Afghanistan, which is approximately 25 per cent of the total population.

The current estimate of internally-displaced persons is estimated at 900,000 and is expected to reach one million before the end of the year. Millions more are severely affected in villages, too poor or unable to move, majority of them are women and children.

The U.N. said though it had withdrawn its international staff from Afghanistan, it planned to continue to provide life saving assistance to the civilian population. ``There is greatest need to try to continue food aid, shelter, and clothing so that people can survive the advancing winter,'' it said in a statement here.

Despite the Afghan people's overwhelming need for help, some important humanitarian assistance programmes would not be able to continue if volatility inside the country increases.

The World Food Programme (WFP) for Afghanistan is currently helping feed three million people in rural areas alone. If this is stopped, massive displacement cannot be ruled out. Any reduction of assistance would increase both levels of vulnerability and the overall number of vulnerable Afghan civilians.

On several occasions, during earlier withdrawals of the U.N. international staff from Afghanistan, essential programmes were continued due to the efforts of hundreds of dedicated and professional Afghan staff. In the absence of international staff, they will undertake their activities insofar as the situation permits and security prevails.

The U.N. has conceded that the national staff has never been called upon to carry out their duties in a crisis of this magnitude. It must also be recognised that, while they will receive as much support from Islamabad as possible, as individuals, they will also be faced with making decisions about the best interest of their own families.

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Section  : International
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