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29 October 2001
Fact Sheet: USAID's Central Asian Emergency Report, Oct. 29 Refugee count from Pakistan to Afghanistan passes 100,000
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has issued its latest fact sheet on the unfolding humanitarian emergency in Central Asia. International humanitarian organizations estimate that some 5-7 million people in Afghanistan and neighboring countries could suffer hunger and exposure as winter approaches.
Refugees have been fleeing the country for years, escaping war or drought-induced food shortages. Estimates indicate there were more than 4 million refugees prior to September 11. As instability has increased during the U.S. bombing campaign over Afghanistan, the outpouring of refugees has increased in recent weeks.
Following is the text of the USAID fact sheet:
U.S. Agency For International Development
Bureau For Humanitarian Response (BHR)
Office Of U.s. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
Central Asia Task Force
Central Asia Region - Complex Emergency
Fact Sheet
October 29, 2001
Note: this Fact Sheet updates previously released Central Asia Region Fact Sheets and Situation Reports.
Numbers Affected
- According to a joint assessment by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Pakistani authorities, the total influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan since September 11, 2001 is estimated at 100,000 to 110,000. Afghanistan
- According to local press reports, the first winter rains are predicted within three days and could cause snowfall in the higher elevations of Afghanistan. --The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) compound in Kabul was bombed for a second time on October 26 and three of the four warehouses caught fire. The buildings contained food and blankets that were to be distributed to 55,000 disabled and other vulnerable people. --The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported that 6,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) are in a camp 20 kilometers inside Afghanistan near Spin-Boldak. An NGO from the United Arab Emirates is assisting the IDPs. --The offices of international humanitarian agencies in Afghanistan continue to experience looting and armed occupation. According to UNOCHA, the UNHCR office in Kandahar, which houses relief supplies, was looted. UNOCHA also reported that the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) office in Mazar-e Sharif is occupied by armed individuals, and local authorities are using two WFP vehicles. ICRC offices in Mazar-e Sharif were taken over by armed individuals on October 23. Pakistan
- UNHCR reports that 1,350 people are staying at the temporary staging site, Killi Faizo, in Pakistan close to the Chaman border crossing. Iran
- The current camp population at Makaki, located in a Taliban-controlled area on the Afghan side of the Iran-Afghanistan border, rose to 7,800, according to UNHCR. The Iranian Red Crescent Society (ICRS) is no longer registering new arrivals since the camp is approaching its limit of 1,000 tents. --The Mile 46 camp in a Northern Alliance-controlled area of Afghanistan near the Iran border currently has 568 people. U.S. Government Activities
New Actions
- As of October 29, the Department of Defense (DOD) had airdropped 959,640 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) valued at $4,126,452 into Afghanistan. Disaster Declarations & Background
- On October 4, 2001, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina B. Rocca redeclared a complex humanitarian disaster for Afghanistan for FY 2002. --On October 10, 2001, U.S. Charg��d'Affaires James A. Boughner declared a disaster for Tajikistan due to drought.
FY 2001 USG Assistance to Afghanistan
Total USAID/OFDA $12,599,441
Total USAID/FFP $31,200,000
Total USAID/DG $310,000
Total USDA $99,800,000
Total State/PRM $29,828,659
Total State/HDP $2,800,000
Total State/INL $1,500,000
Total CDC $569,525
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2001 $178,607,625
FY 2002 USG Assistance to Afghanistan
Total USAID/OFDA $28,923,766
Total USAID/FFP $38,555,000
Total State/PRM $10,000,000
Total DOD $4,126,452
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance FY 2002 $81,605,218
TOTAL USG Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan FY 2001/2002 $260,212,843 USG Assistance to Tajikistan
Total USG Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2001 $67,210,000
Total USAID/OFDA Assistance to Tajikistan FY 2002 $998,180
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