UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO THE DISPLACED AND OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS IN AFGHANISTAN

16 November 2001





The Representative of the Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons, Francis M. Deng, and the UN Special Coordinator on Internal Displacement, Kofi Asomani, today called on the warring parties in Afghanistan to take all necessary steps to ensure immediate, safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to the internally displaced and other vulnerable populations in the country.

Responding to alarming reports of the abysmal conditions facing displaced persons and other vulnerable groups within Afghanistan, the United Nations officials, recalling the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, restated in the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, called for greater protection and assistance to vulnerable populations in Afghanistan and immediate, safe and unhindered access to those in need.

" We draw urgent attention to the deplorable conditions facing more than one million persons displaced within Afghanistan who are in immediate need of assistance and protection. The changed military and political situation on the ground provides a critical window of opportunity to reach those in need with life saving humanitarian assistance.

While we acknowledge the invaluable efforts of national UN and NGO staff to assist those in need within Afghanistan, as well as the encouraging response of donor States to emergency humanitarian appeals, such efforts have been seriously constrained by the lack of access to vulnerable populations. Moreover, landmines and unexploded ordnance also pose an extraordinary threat to civilians and aid workers in Afghanistan.

With winter fast approaching it is imperative that the provision to the internally displaced and other vulnerable groups of food aid, shelter materials, warm clothing, blankets and medical supplies be significantly increased so as to avert human suffering on a scale which will likely be far beyond that witnessed last winter. In one incident last winter, in a period of only a few days, the combination of sub-zero temperatures and inadequate shelter resulted in the deaths of large numbers of people in camps for the displaced near the city of Herat. The majority of the dead were elderly persons and children.

(more)Beyond the provision of assistance to vulnerable populations, there is a clear and urgent need for increased attention to the protection needs of the internally displaced and the civilian population in general. In addition to the dangers to life and physical security resulting directly from the ongoing hostilities, reports indicate a general breakdown in law and order and acts of banditry. There are reports also of forced recruitment of internally displaced persons in camps and restrictions on the freedom of movement of displaced persons seeking safety within and outside Afghanistan. Furthermore, we are concerned at the prospect of possible acts of reprisal against segments of the civilian population.

We call upon all parties to the conflict to undertake immediate and sustained efforts to provide greater protection to the displaced and civilian population and to respect their rights as guaranteed by international humanitarian law and human rights law. Acts of reprisal and persecution should under no circumstances be tolerated and perpetrators of such acts must be held accountable by the international community.

Finally, in view of the rapidly changing situation on the ground, some of the displaced have begun returning to their areas of origin. In this regard, and conscious of the dangers posed to returning displaced persons by landmines and unexploded ordnance, we call on all relevant actors to establish the conditions necessary to facilitate the voluntary, safe and dignified return of the displaced, including undertaking urgent mine action activities".


For more information please contact the Office of the Representative of the Secretary-General, c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, tel: +41 22 917 9160 or the office of the Special Coordinator on Internal Displacement with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Geneva, tel: +41 22 917 1733.



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