Devastating crisis confronting Afghans

Islamabad (Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan), 2 February 2001 - "The situation in Afghanistan has seriously deteriorated in the course of 2000 and early 2001," said United Nations Co-ordinator Erick de Mul today at a press conference in Islamabad. Two years of drought, many years of war, and lack of investment in productive capacity have culminated in a major human tragedy. "This country has never faced a humanitarian crisis of such dimensions before," he added.
Half a million Afghans have already left their homes and become newly displaced during 2000 and early 2001. Heading towards impoverished cities and other areas, their chances of finding work are low, and if they do, they will still not be able to feed their families due to the drop in wage labour rates. "Competition for jobs is so scarce that in some areas, a person would have to work for an entire week just to provide one meal for the family," he emphasised. He added that more people would be on the move over the next several months.

"The recent deaths of displaced persons in camps in Herat are just the beginning," he added. "All over the country, people will begin dying in greater numbers over the next months." The situation is so dire, he stressed, that the recovery from this prolonged decline will be difficult given loss of livestock, lack of agricultural inputs, loss of high value long term investments such as orchards, and lack of funding to run assistance programmes.

"We believe this intolerable situation will continue to worsen dramatically over the next few months and that still more people will leave their homes." He also noted that of particular concern was the early outbreak of this crisis, because the next harvest will not be until next summer.

The international community must not allow the needs of Afghans to be overshadowed by other crises, he said. He said that the 2001 Appeal asking for $229 million needed to be met in its entirety, in addition to the recent appeal of 3.5 million for the displaced persons, for which only $200,00 have been pledged. "To continue business as usual, where only half of the Appeal is funded, is a recipe for catastrophe," he added.

To a question on the numbers of IDPs who have died of cold in Herat, the United Nations Co-ordinator answered that the initial report of 110 deaths remains valid until reports of increased numbers of deaths are verified.

For further information, please contact Stephanie Bunker, Office of the UN Co-ordinator, 2211451 x 415; 0320 261325