EMERGENCY HELP FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES since the events of September 11th 2001
AIDE D'URGENCE AUX REFUGIES AFGHANS depuis les événements du 11 septembre 2001
This project is being run with RAWA
Projet géré en collaboration avec RAWA
see photographs taken during the FemAid mission to Pakistan
Background
The American bombings have precipitated new waves of civilian refugees towards the already overloaded refugee camps, in particular in Pakistan. These have been "home" to some three million Afghan refugees who began to flee under the Soviet occupation and whose numbers have increased under the mudjhadin, then the Taliban rule and civil war and now the bombings. All of which has been worse by drought and famine. For reasons of poor organisation, bureaucracy, local corruption and theft, the official humanitarian aid (UNHCR, CICR,MDM, MSF) has been hampered in its efforts and certainly inadequately helped (if at all) by the Pakistani governement . Very little aid reaches all these deseperate people who are about to face winter on the brink of famine, lack of medical care, schooling and soon to be deprived of any future at all.
What can we do ?
This is why we have chosen to work with RAWA whose members manage to distribute food and care directly and efficiently, albeit on a small quasi-confidential scale in the Peshawar area (Jalozai camp complex) and Akora Khatak.
Many people have asked us if they can send things directly to Pakistan.
Yes and No
Food and elementary aid are much cheaper in Pakistan than anywhere else. Postal costs alone from Europe and the US are prohibitive. So see below how you can help with food parcels for families.
However equipment and more valuable items can be sent to the following address:
Mrs Parvin
P.O.Box 2312
Islamabad / Pakistan
Don't write RAWA or imply that this is humanitarian aid on the parcel, because its content might disappear before it gets to those that need it
The best thing is to check with air freight via PIA and then notify RAWA that you have sent something- or otherwise contact us. But you must realize that sending can be a complex affair, with all manner of customs problems.
Food parcels for families
Next time you're down at the supermarket pushing that heavy trolley, remember for under $10 per week you can feed an entire family of 6 Afghan refugees.
The weekly food parcel comprises:
10lb flour, 10lb rice, 10lb fat (ghee, which is clarified butter in tins), 4lb sugar, I lb tea. Fruit, vegetables, protein is lacking, but nevertheless, this already would be paradise for the average Afghan family
This is a project you can support as a family
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Nom………………………………………………………………………
Address………………………………………………………………….
Email…………………………………………………………………….
We want to sponsor an Afghan family
For one month ($30) /3 months ($90) / six months ($180) one year ($360)
I want to join FemAid ( $30) ……………………………………
You can send a Euro cheque made out directly to Femaid and send it to :
FemAid, 33 rue Guy Moquet 92240 Malakoff France
(see amounts in Euro in the French version below, or just transfer the currency to Euros which nowadys ios the same)
Three possibilities:
We have a US $ account PLEASE STATE SPECIFICALLY THAT THE DONATION WILL BE IN US $
Account n°: 85120070101 USD
Branch code: 61101
Bank code: 30588
Clé Rib 44
R.I.B: 30588 61101 85120070101 44 (FEMAID ASSOCIATION)
Swift: BAARCFR.PP 30588 61101 85120070101 44 (FEMAID ASSOCIATION)
Financial contributions to FemAid will be forwarded to RAWA.
Alternately by Euro bank draft to:
BARCLAYS BANK, PARIS, 183 avenue Daumesnil 75575 Paris Cedex 12 France
Account n°: 85120070801 78
Branch code: 61101
Bank code: 30588
Swift: BAARCFR.PP 30588 61101 85120070801 78 (FEMAID ASSOCIATION)
We also have a £ sterling account for residents of U.K. PLEASE STATE SPECIFICALLY PLEASE STATE SPECIFICALLY THAT THE DONATION WILL BE IN STERLING
Account n°: 85120070101 GBP
Branch code: 61101
Bank code: 30588
Clé Rib 44
R.I.B: 30588 61101 85120070101 44 (FEMAID ASSOCIATION)
Swift: BAARCFR.PP 30588 61101 85120070101 44 (FEMAID ASSOCIATION)
PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT BANKS POCKET A SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGE OF WHATEVER YOU SEND SO ADD 15% TO COVER COSTS.
All correspondance and in-kind
gifts should be mailed direct to RAWA, not FemAid.
Short statement about the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan
Whilst on a fact-finding mission to Pakistan with RAWA, I was taken from
December 18th to 20th last to visit camps in the Peshawar area, in
particular Atora Khatak and Jalozai. I was sneaked into the camp under a
black veil as journalists and outsiders are no longer permitted to go
there : even RAWA has to bring in aid in secret. Hardly surprising as the
local authorities don’t want the world to see the level of starvation and
despair in these appalling places who have made it to the news on several
occasions..
Akkora Khatak, is a sprawl of mud-huts in the midst of some kind of scrub
land, which houses different ‘generations’ of Afghan refugees fleeing
Soviets and especially the Taliban. Like all the camps, this one is run
by a Pakistani commander put in place by local authorities. People
repeatedly told me that no aid whatsoever has been distributed for the
past five months, except for one distribution of flour for Ramazan. I was
told that the commander (who was named as 'Gullabi') pockets aid and
resells it as well as running a crime and drugs racket with the three
local imams (priests) whose names were given as Sherif, Samar and Hamid-
the latter is known, women told me, to have raped a woman in the camp.
There is no schooling, drug consumption is high amongst women as well as
men. Not to mention the health problems: I met a child whose foot was
deformed by polio, I dread to think of the epidemics in summer.
I was told that Shelter Now has built some housing and there is evidence
of some more donations (a beautiful but perfectly useless cart in one
person’s yard), smaller NGOs have not been allowed in, it seems . When
RAWA brings in supplies, there are riots as organisation and cooperation
with camp authorities are inexistent.
I went briefly to the notorious Jalozai camp, mile upon mile of tiny
tents made of any scrap material, mainly rags, blankets with here and
there the UNHCR logo emblazoning a ragged panel. In the parts I visited,
only partly overflowing with recent arrivals following American bombings,
there was no access to water, electricity, sanitation or any kind of
resources. Women cooked between the tents on fires built between piles of
bricks. The filth is indescribable, children cough pitifully, their
mothers are emaciated. Older fundamentalists police the section fiercly,
trying to keep women inside their tents, politics dominate even the
camps. The winter cold is starting, I know that most of those I saw that
day will not make it to the spring. Pakistanis are apt to tell you that
there are comparable slums in other parts of the Subcontinent, even in
Islamabad, but none is as paradoxically media- saturated and
simultaneously cut-off from the world.
The people I talked to begged me to try and do something about their
conditions. One feels so helpless, especially as we here all know that
the world has donated millions to the cause of Afghan refugees and in
truth, we may wonder what has happened to all the money. Corruption
festers the situation all down the line, but it is clear that camp
commanders such as this Gullabi should be investigated by the UNHCR and
NGOs and this should be made a condition for granting aid. Right at the
top, Pakistan should be obligated to accept this kind of continuous
inspection in exchange for the credits that are pouring in. And efficient
organizations such as RAWA along with competent local NGOs should be
officially be put in charge of distribution alongside the responsible
bodies of the local UNHCR. The problem is not insoluble- just one of
tenacity and logistics- but when will anyone have the courage to tackle
it ?
I have not done any additional research into this,I am quoting what I
heard (as translated from the Dari and the Farsi by my friend from RAWA)
by describing what I saw with the hope that this will not discourage
donors, just oblige the responsible administrations and fund-collecting
bodies to do their work to the end- and ensure that the help gets to
where it's most needed.
I may add that RAWA is doing worthwhile and essential work in these camps and should be entrusted by the larger agencies to do more.
See photograph of Jalozai on the contact sheet
BACK TO HOME PAGE
contact:
For more information on Afghanistan :
Pour plus d'informations sur l'Afghanistan, voir les sites suivants, tous en anglais
Check RAWA's site for up-to-date information on the situation in Afghanistan. There is an fascinating section with children's drawings as well.
See: http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/ra_wa/kid-pic.htm
Get on Azadi Afghan Radio's mailing list. On a daily basis, you will get a selection of news and commentary from publicly accessible sites on Internet- the sort of information that's not likely to make the papers but are neverthless essential for those who want to know more. It has to be said that this is a pro-Northern Alliance group, so counterbalance this with information put out by RAWA
see: www.afghanradio.com/azadi.html
and write directly to : azadiafghanradio@aol.com
An active group based in Calgary, Women For Women Canada has all kinds of information on the situation as well as ongoing projects.
see: www.womenasia.com/W4Wafghan
and write to: eisenhaueur@ praxis.ca
In Britain, do check: rawasupporters.co.uk
La situation depuis le 11 septembre
Les bombardements américains ont suscité un exode accéléré des populations civiles vers des camps de réfugiés, en particulier au Pakistan. Ces camps "accueillent" depuis l'invasion soviétique quelques trois millions de réfugiés afghans expropriés par la guerre civile, les conditions de vie insupportables sous les moudjhadines et depuis cinq ans les Talibans, et à présent les bombardements , le tout aggravé par la sécheresse actuelle et la famine qui sévissent dans ce champ de ruines qu'est l'Afghanistan actuel.
Pour des raisons de bureaucratie, de mauvaise organisation, de corruption et de détournements abjecte, l'aide humanitaire actuelle (UNHCR, MSF,MDM,CICR), qui n'est pas aidé de façon adéquate par le gouvernement pakistanais n'arrive à subvenir aux besoins de ces populations desespérées, qui abordent l'hiver, privées d'alimentation, de soins médicaux, de scolarité et bientôt d'avenir.
(voir l'article paru dans le Le Monde daté 20/10/2001)
Que pouvons nous faire
Pour toutes ces raisons, nous avons décidé de travailler avec RAWA dont les membres distribuent directement et efficacement l'aide à ceux qui en ont besoin, bien que de façon limitée, mais ciblée das la région de Peshawar (le complexe de camps à Jalosai et Akora Khatak).
Beaucoup de gens nous demandent s'ils peuvent envoyer directement de l'aide sur place.
Oui et Non
La nourriture et l'aide médicale de base est très bon marché sur place. Rien que l'affranchissement à partir de l'Europe ou les Etats-Unis riquent de vous ruiner! Regardez le prix de revient des colis familiaux (plus bas). Néanmoins, vous pouvez envoyer de l'équipement à l'adresse suivante
Mrs Parvin
P.O.Box 2312
Islamabad / Pakistan
Il ne faut écrire ni RAWA, ni aide humanitaire sur le paquet, parce que son contenu risque de disparaître avant d'arriver à ceux et celles à qui il est destiné.
Colis alimentaires de base
Pourquoi ne pas prendre en charge une famille pendant une durée à vous de déterminer ?
Chaque fois que vous remplissez votre caddie hebdomadaire, songez que pour 10 Euros vous pouvez nourrir une famille de six personnes pendant une semaine !
Ces colis comprennent: 5 kg de farine, 5 kg de riz, 5 kg de matière grasse (ghee en boites de conserves), 2 kg de sucre, une livre de thé. C'est bien peu, et il manque fruits légumes et protéines mais c'est déjà du luxe pour la plupart des réfugiés...
Voici un projet à subventionner en famille
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Nom………………………………………………………………………
Adresse………………………………………………………………….
Email…………………………………………………………………….
Je désire sponsoriser l'alimentation d' une famille afghane refugiée
Pendant un mois: 30 euros
Je/ m’engage de verser cette somme tous les mois pendant
3 mois / 6 mois / 1 an
Je désire aider RAWA sur toute son action et j’envoie…………..
J’adhère à FemAid (30 euros ou plus)……………………………………
(rayer la mention inutile)
Chèques à l’ordre de FemAid à envoyer à: FemAid, 33 rue Guy Moquet 92240 Malakoff France
contactez: