Red Crescent Shines over Afghan Refugees
By Zeba Khan

Owing mainly to war and partly to drought, the number of Afghani refugees has exceeded four million (UNHCR). Of that four million, two million are in Pakistan, and thousands more enter on a daily basis. The number has recently skyrocketed due to American air-strikes on Afghanistan, though the influx began even before the hostilities did.

In an interview given just days before the US began air-strikes, retired Brigadier Dr. Abdul Rafiq Khan Burki, Secretary General of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said though technically the hostilities had not begun, "the scare itself is enough and the number of refugees entering has increased."

Operation Enduring Freedom, has in fact, already yielded civilian casualties amongst those who are fleeing from it." Malaria, tuberculosis, Gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, dehydration, weakness, fatigue," Dr. Burki read out a mental list of causes of death for Afghanis in Pakistan's overcrowded refugee camps. "Thank God, at least we don't have cholera," he sincerely muttered.

Even without the help of cholera, the Afghanis who come to Pakistan fleeing death often find it waiting when they get here. "The refugees who actually make it to the camps suffer from dehydration, malnutrition, and weakness and other diseases and injuries. Right now we have first aid posts set up along the borders and inside of the refugee camps. We assess the refugee's condition, and if necessary, we send him or her to the hospital from there but even so the men die, the women die, the children die, everyone seems to be equally affected by the hardships," Dr. Burki said.

Despite monetary aid from other Red Cross and Crescent Societies, the PRCS is still far from having sufficient funds to cope with the impending humanitarian crisis. The International Federation of the Red Cross has issued an appeal for 5.5 million dollars worth of aid to cope with the expected mass exodus, but reports that only 39.4% of the needed amount has been pledged.

"You have to see these people to understand, they desperately need help. Medical facilities are most lacking in the camps, and unless we are given more help by the international community, things will get worse, Dr. Burki pleaded."I have urgently appealed to the international community, and we've had some responses."

"The head of the Red Crescent in India called me," Dr. Burki said, "She said if you need anything please, tell me. We can help. The Spanish Red Cross sent us five thousand dollars, and this is because the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are like a family. There's really no politics when it comes down to relief work, it's a purely humanitarian cause."

The PRCS's most recent shipment of aid arrived last week in Peshawer just last week, and contained 1,000 tents, 10,000 blankets and 3,000 water containers. "We're catering to 10,000 at the moment, but more are expected." Plans in PRCS's immediate future include assisting 120,000 refugees through their branches in the North Wet Frontier Province and Balochistan.

He said, "At this point we plan to assist 120,000 refugees through our branches in North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan. It will be a major logistical challenge but we have already set up an operations room in our headquarters in Islamabad and we are identifying new warehousing space in Quetta."

Even if Afghanistan's political problems are somehow resolved, there is still the worst drought to hit Afghanistan in thirty years and impending winter to deal with. Last winter, nearly 70 children, not counting those who died from disease and malnutrition, died in the Jallozai, Pakistan refugee camp from the cold weather.

Afghanistan has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world, and one of the highest infant mortality rates, 20%. The burden of coping with the Afghan Refugee Crisis rests on Pakistan's shoulders, and with organizations like Al-Rasheed Charitable Trust closed down for suspected funding of "terrorists", the Afghani people are being left more and more helpless as the situation progresses.

It is now up to benevolent Pakistanis to aid organizations like the PRCS in order to prevent as many refugee deaths as possible, and preserve their health and dignity while they are seeking sanctuary within our country. To do anything less would be bad manners on our part as hosts, and un-Islamic behavior on our part as Muslims.

To do your part, earn Allah's blessings and ease the suffering of innocent Afghani civilians, please mail checks to:

Pakistan Red Crescent Society
National Headquarters, H-8
Islamabad, Pakistan

Or make a donation online at the official Pakistan Red Crescent Society website: www.prcs.org.pk

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/17/2002 3:37:09 PM

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