Poor support for tackling refugee influx: UNHCR

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 13. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed serious concern over ``numerous obstacles'' in the way of urgent preparations for a possible influx of refugees in countries bordering Afghanistan.

In a strongly-worded statement here, the UNHCR, Mr. Rudd Lubbers, complained of inadequate international and regional support to raise the resources to tackle the refugee influx.

Pakistan, on its part, once again pleaded helplessness in throwing open its border to more Afghan refugees. The Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan, gave two reasons for the inability to locate refugee camps in areas desired by the U.N. agencies. ``Camps can only be established in lands under the control of the Government and not in areas belonging to people. Besides, we want the Afghans to return to their homeland as soon as possible. The closer they are to the border it is easier to return.''

Mr. Khan emphasised that bearing the burden of three million refugees, Pakistan had consistently been impressing upon the U.N. agencies the need for relief and rehabilitation within Afghanistan.

The UNHCR and his partners are struggling to put in place the relief supplies, camps, infrastructure and personnel required to cope with any large-scale movement out of Afghanistan. It has set an initial planning goal of providing, as soon as possible, everything required to care for up to 400,000 new arrivals in Pakistan and Iran. This means immediate construction of camps and the stockpiling of thousands of tonnes of provisions. ``We are in a real race against time - and right now we are losing. Obviously, we hope there are no new refugees fleeing to neighbouring States.

``But there is every possibility that we could soon start seeing large numbers of new arrivals. Assisting people inside Afghanistan is a very, very limited option right now, given the security situation.''

``In any event, it is our responsibility to work with asylum countries to be prepared in the event of a refugee influx. Unfortunately, we are not receiving the support - in the region or internationally - that we need,'' Mr. Lubbers said.

Although no major movements have been reported, borders in neighboring countries remain closed. In Pakistan, ``red-tape and security concerns'' prevent UNHCR field teams from getting access to border areas to monitor possible population movements or from offering immediate assistance to any new arrivals.

For a fourth consecutive day on Thursday, the UNHCR staff in the border areas of Pakistan were largely restricted to their quarters or offices because of security concerns, affecting a whole range of urgent field activities.

The UNHCR said that compounding the problem is the insistence of the Pakistan Government that any new camp be built in dry, remote and insecure tribal areas along the Afghan border. While recognizing the enormous burden that Pakistan - which already hosts some 2 million Afghans - has carried for years, the UNHCR continues to press for more suitable sites further inland.

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Section  : International
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