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In light of the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan the International Assistance Mission (IAM) reiterates its concern for the conditions of the hundreds of thousands of poor, war weary, and hungry Afghans.
In many places, especially in the centre and north-west regions of Afghanistan, the situation has become desperate. IAM extends a plea to the world community to not forget the plight of these people who are suffering now even more than before, through no fault of their own. With most aid being delayed or even being stopped, many Afghans are finding themselves pushed to the brink of death itself. The IAM asks that assistance for the Afghan people be sustained by the world community during the current events and throughout the rebuilding of this devastated land.
Help from around the world is needed as over the last ten years the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has steadily increased. Continued fighting has made life miserable for the many. The ongoing drought, a huge unemployment rate, deteriorating health care conditions, and the many obstacles and restrictions that have been place on the aid community, have combined to cause the suffering of the Afghan people to rise to an unbearable level.
If sufficient amounts of food, medicines and shelter are not forthcoming and the aid community is not allowed to work with sufficient freedom to distribute it properly, tens of thousands of Afghans could die during the coming months.
The events of September 11th are unspeakably grievous, but so are the conditions that the Afghan people have lived in and endured for the past twenty or more years, while war has shattered their land and ravaged the people.
In the past the IAM has focused its work in developmental areas, such as Health, Education and Rehabilitation, and Economic Development. Though these areas are still crucial for Afghanistan, we also see the urgent need for assistance in basic survival. We affirm the INGO co-operative press release of the 5th of October and are currently looking for ways to work with the UN and INGS/NGO's in a co-ordinated manner, to assist the displaced Afghan people, both in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. In responding together, we can help the Afghan people find hope and peace in the midst of a difficult time.
Source: International Assistance Mission. IAM is a Swiss-registered development agency that has been working in Afghanistan for over 35 years.
October 18, 2001
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