PAKISTAN: UNITED STATES DELIVERS CONSIGNMENT OF AID TO THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PESHAWAR

Record ID: 338311

  • Title: PAKISTAN: UNITED STATES DELIVERS CONSIGNMENT OF AID TO THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PESHAWAR
  • Date: 7th February 2001
  • Summary: PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (FEBRUARY 7, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. BACKVIEW OF UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO PAKISTAN WILLIAM B. MILAM PRESIDING OVER DELIVERY OF FOOD AID 0.06 2. PAN: WORKERS CARRYING BAGS OF WHEAT TO WAITING TRUCK 0.21 3. SV'S: WORKERS CARRYING BAGS (2 SHOTS) 0.41 4. SV: AMBASSADOR WATCHING RELIEF OPERATION 0.46 5. PAN UP: BAGS SHOWING USA WHEAT 0.55 6. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. AMBASSADOR WILLIAM MILAM, SAYING: "If you look around, you will see that it is just not a gesture. This is the real thing, we have been feeding the vulnerable parts of Afghan population for years. That is going to continue, we have been responding to their dire needs, when they get into dire straits. That is going to continue." 1.13 7. HAS: AMBASSADOR AND PILE OF WHEAT BAGS 1.26 8. CU: BAG SAYING USA WHEAT 1.32 9. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MILAM, SAYING: "There is a disinformation campaign being perpetrated by the people on whom sanctions have been put, that is the authorities of the major part of Afghanistan, but we know it is not true. We know what is happening there is as a result of natural disasters or natural problems and the policies that these people follow. So we are comfortable with ourselves. We are comfortable what we are doing." 2.05 10. SV/SLV: DEPARTURE OF FOOD AID CONVOY FOR REFUGEE CAMP (2 SHOTS) 2.16 11. TRACK: AMBASSADOR WALKING THROUGH CAMP 2.22 12. VARIOUS OF CONVOY DRIVING THROUGH CAMP (2 SHOTS) 2.37 13. SV: MORE OF AMBASSADOR WALKING THROUGH CAMP 2.42 14. SV: VARIOUS OF REFUGEES WALKING THROUGH CAMP (3 SHOTS) 3.06 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd February 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Reuters ID: LVA7IRCZJ8ATAMH0Z8CNU02WO1KJ
  • Story Text: The United States, condemned by Pakistanis for
    imposing sanctions on Afghanistan, has sought to counter
    criticism by delivering a consignment of aid to refugees both
    inside and outside Afghanistan.


    U.S. Ambassador William Milam oversaw the delivery on
    Wednesday (February 7) of 12 tonnes of wheat to the World Food
    Programme in Peshawar - aid destined to feed thousands of
    Afghan refugees who have fled war and drought.

    The delivery comes amid increasing criticism of the
    United States (U.S.) for sponsoring United Nation (U.N.)
    sanctions aimed at forcing Afghanistan's ruling Taleban
    movement to hand over Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.

    Although Washington insists sanctions do not hurt ordinary
    Afghans, they come as the country struggles under the
    twin pressures of 21 years of war and the worst drought in
    three decades.

    Aid agencies are struggling to cope with the continuing
    flood of refugees from Afghanistan. Since September, 150,000
    Afghanis have crossed the border to Pakistan where many of
    them live in squalor.

    Milam said the aid was not an empty gesture.

    "If you look around, you will see that it is just not a
    gesture. This is the real thing, we have been feeding the
    vulnerable parts of Afghan population for years, that is going
    to continue, we have been responding to their dire needs," he
    said.

    Milam's visit coincided with the departure of a 20-truck
    convoy carrying U.S. wheat to the Afghan city of Jalalabad.

    While the U.S. remains one of the chief suppliers of
    food aid to Afghanistan, providing 90 per cent of the World
    Food Programme's wheat supply for the country, suspicion of
    the U.S. lingers.

    Milam defended the U.S. policy on Afghanistan, saying
    that the hardships people were suffering were not due to
    sanctions.

    "There are lots of disinformation campaign being
    perpetrated by the people on whom sanctions have been put,
    that is the authorities of the major part of Afghanistan, but
    we know it is not true. We know what is happening there is as
    a result of natural disasters or natural problems and the
    policies that these people follow. So we are comfortable with
    ourselves. We are comfortable what we are doing."
    Last week, between 150-500 Afghan refugees froze to death
    at a U.N. camp in Herat, Afghanistan.


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