Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
| ||||||||||||
Afghanistan: As Humanitarian Crisis Builds UN Declines To Be A Part of The Political Solution - Empire? - Global Policy Forum Afghanistan: As Humanitarian Crisis Builds
EuropaWorld
UN Declines To Be A Part of The Political Solution
October 19, 2001
Speaking in New York, the UN's appointed head of Afghan operations, Lakhdar Brahimi emphasised that the UN would continue its longstanding work on behalf of the Afghan people, both in providing humanitarian assistance and in seeking a settlement to the ongoing conflict. But it was not looking for a 'nation-building.' role. This will come as a disappointment to those who have envisaged a political solution to the Afghan crisis as lying in some sort of UN Protectorate.
Mr Brahimi emphasised that the UN was not seeking a role in any transitional administration or peacekeeping or "anything like that." He indicated that this view had the backing of Kofi Annan. The UN would, however, welcome the possibility of helping the Afghan people to reconstruct their country, "that is a different thing from actually providing a direct administration," he said.
It was important to take account of the fact that Afghans were a very proud people who resented being ordered around by foreigners. "They don't like to see foreigners there, especially in military uniforms," said Mr Brahimi.
Clarification of this position should help the UN aid agencies in their vital work of getting food and other relief supplies into the country and of sheltering those both inside and outside Afghanistan who have fled their homes. There is considerable urgency to pre-position supplies before the winter sets in and roads, particularly in rural districts, become impassable.
But just now there is a problem of cash. UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, says that it has received only $12 million in cash whereas it needs $50 million to pre-position refugee supplies before the winter. Ditto the World Food Programme (WFP) which has so far received only 6 per cent of its $257 million appeal in cash. UNICEF, which delivers relief supplies to tens of thousands of children in Afghanistan, has received only half of its $36 million appeal. 100,000 additional children will die in Afghanistan this winter if food aid cannot be got through to them, they say.
Some aid, both food and supplies, does appear to be getting through, although whether the volume is sufficient to pre-position all the supplies needed for the winter is doubtful. However, there are difficulties at every turn. The Taliban regime's restrictions still place enormous operating difficulties on the agencies. They are not allowed to use telephones, for instance. Now an even greater blow has fallen. The Taliban have taken over WFP's food warehouses in Kabul and Kandahar. The precise implications are uncertain but in probability food that was designated to keep people alive in needy mountain villages will now be used to feed the Taliban's soldiers.
Six major aid agencies have called for a bombing pause so that deliveries can be stepped up, though it is doubtful whether such a pause would assist much without a similar response from the Taliban. Food and relief supplies have reached the large centres of Mazar-I-Sharif and Herat and other large centres, although the drought stricken villagers in the Central Highlands are not so fortunate. Very few supplies are getting through to them, the UN report.
Meanwhile, UNHCR is reporting a sharp rise in the number of people crossing the Pakistan border, despite the fact that it is officially closed. It estimates that some 8,000 have crossed in the first four days of this week in the district of Chaman alone. More and more they say that Afghans are resorting to using smuggling gangs to get them across. One family of six is reputed to have paid the smugglers $100 to get them from Kandahar to Quetta where newly arrived refugees report a stream of vehicles moving towards the border.
UNHCR is busy preparing 15 new camp sites in North West frontier province to shelter 150,000 people but progress is hampered by many obstacles such as a lack of water and difficulties with local authorities in the province. A bleak winter is in prospect.
More Information on Empire?
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C ß 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
