Afghanistan: Position on humanitarian aid delivery

Afghanistan: Position on humanitarian aid delivery

* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International *

18 October 2001 ASA 11/021/2001 184/01

All necessary measures must be taken to ensure humanitarian aid is delivered to those that need it in Afghanistan. In light of reports that indicate that unless enough aid reaches the Afghan population before the onset of winter hundreds of thousands of Afghans would be seriously affected, and in view of concerns presented that the armed conflict is having an effect on the delivery of aid, Amnesty International calls on all parties, including the USA-led coalition, the Taleban and Northern Alliance forces, to refrain from attacking or otherwise preventing workers from delivering aid. All parties should immediately assess the impact of military operations on the provision of humanitarian aid and take appropriate measures to facilitate aid delivery.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has been joined by leading humanitarian aid organizations (Oxfam International, Islamic Relief, Christian Aid, CAFOD, Tear Fund and Action Aid) in calling for a pause in the bombings to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

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