USA: RUUD LUBBERS A SENIOR UN OFFICIAL URGES THE USA TO CONSIDER THE HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES OF A MILITARY RETALIATION

Record ID: 646720

  • Title: USA: RUUD LUBBERS A SENIOR UN OFFICIAL URGES THE USA TO CONSIDER THE HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES OF A MILITARY RETALIATION
  • Date: 18th September 2001
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 18, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. MV/SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUUD LUBBERS, UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SAYING "Take into account consequences of all actions so if you exaggerate you are too blunt and not specific enough, it is of course a disaster for many people, also innocent citizens." 0.24 2. SV REPORTERS 0.29 3. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUBBERS SAYING: "Policy options now and in the way forward humanitarian consequences for the Afghan people in particular and others. If one goes for action there are always consequences and we think the policy alternatives, the humanitarian aspect have to be very key on the agenda. At this very moment we see already new streams of refugees and there are already so many in Pakistan and Iran than in the rest of the world, so we have to find solutions for those people." 1.06 4. MV REPORTERS 1.11 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd October 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVACMQXOILFEGLFWFRIN2XPECOEY
  • Story Text: A senior United Nations official has urged America to
    weigh the humanitarian consequences on ordinary Afghans of any
    military retaliation for the World Trade Center and Pentagon
    attacks.



    Ruud Lubbers, the Dutchman in charge of the United
    Nation's refugee agency, made a plea for humanitarian concerns
    to take priority as the United States considered how to
    respond to last week's terror attacks.

    "Take into account the consequences of all actions. ... If
    you are not specific enough, it's of course a disaster for
    many people, for innocent citizens," he said.

    Thousands of civilians are fleeing Afghanistan, fearing
    U.S. reprisals. The U.N. High Commission for Refugees, which
    evacuated its workers from Afghanistan last week, said it had
    received reports that 5,000 people were massed at the Chaman
    border with Pakistan.

    "At this very moment we already have new streams of
    refugees ... so we have to find a solution for these people.

    It's better for Pakistan... to reopen the border. I'm
    confident that they will respond to this call," Lubbers said.

    He added the situation in Afghanistan, battered by war for
    21 years and suffering its worst drought in three decades,
    could not go on that long.





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