Under-Secretary-General in Afghanistan

Islamabad (Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan), 14 February 2001 -- United Nations Under-Secretary-General Kenzo Oshima left Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday for a three-day mission to Afghanistan. Oshima is travelling to Kabul, Faizabad, and Herat.
Mr. Oshima recently assumed the position of Emergency Relief Co-ordinator (ERC) of the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Secretary-General of the United Nations requested Mr. Oshima to visit Afghanistan and Pakistan, his first mission in his new capacity, due to the rapidly deteriorating situation faced by the Afghan people.

In Kabul, the Under-Secretary-General met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Rehman Zahid. In view of the escalating humanitarian disaster confronting the Afghan people, Mr. Oshima stressed the need for the Taliban to work in close co-operation with the aid community in order to help address the growing needs of the civilian population. He also underscored the need for free and timely access to all vulnerable people. Acknowledging the need to increase funding for Afghanistan, the Under Secretary-General emphasised his commitment to increasing international awareness of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, the Under-Secretary-General proceeded to Faizabad in Badakhshan Province. With President Rabbani, he discussed the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in general as well as the specific situation in Badakhshan Province. In Faizabad, as in Kabul, he also emphasised the need for access to vulnerable people. The delegation gave special attention to the issues of food security and agriculture, which are pressing concerns given the advent of the "hungry season." While appreciating international assistance, the authorities in Faizabad drew attention to the need for increased aid to the area. The delegation also visited a camp for displaced persons in Faizabad, which houses some 1,600 families (10,000 people).

On Thursday, Mr. Oshima will travel to Herat, where there are currently 80,000 displaced Afghans in six camps. Recently 150 displaced persons in the Herat camps died of exposure during a brief spell of below freezing temperatures.

Over a half a million Afghans have left their homes in 2000 and 2001 due to conflict and drought. Most are internally displaced inside Afghanistan.

For more information please call Stephanie Bunker, Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan, 92 51 2211451 x 415; 0320 261325.