Posted 12tn November 2001

Oxfam To Affam

Findings of Oxfam's Independent Fact-Finding Mission on the Humanitarian
Crisis in Afghanistan and on its Borders November 6, 2001. This statement
reflects the views of the mission members and not necessarily those of
Oxfam International

Mission members: Lloyd Axworthy, Zulie Sachedina, Mark Fried, Eric Hoskins,
Mohammed Qazilbash, Nicholas Stockton.

The name Afghanistan is ever-present on the lips of politicians and the
television screens of the world. But the Afghan people and the terrible
humanitarian crisis they suffer has been all but absent. With all the
attention on Afghanistan, the interests and concerns of the Afghan people
have somehow got lost. This mission has sought to rectify this in some
small way. We have spoken to Afghans and to those non-Afghans most
concerned with the humanitarian crisis. We have heard very disturbing
stories on all sides. Those involved in seeking to address the crisis now
predict tens of thousands may be dead by the end of next month, more than
100,000 children dead by the end of the winter. The parties to the conflict
currently consuming Afghanistan have placed all their resources into the
war effort. We call on them to put the same drive, resources and expertise
to bear on addressing the humanitarian conflict.

Food

In particular regions of Afghanistan, the food supply is so low that
widespread hunger and possible starvation is imminent. Afghan and
international NGOs, and UN humanitarian organizations, are doing an
extraordinary job to deliver food aid throughout Afghanistan. However, in
particular regions the lack of security guarantees, the ban on
communications and the oncoming winter weather, make delivery by
conventional means nearly impossible. Extraordinary means of delivery, such
as air drops, are currently prohibited by the no-fly zone over Afghanistan.
Parties to this conflict hold the capacity to improve these conditions, and
must act now to prevent this humanitarian catastrophe. Among the options to
be pursued are a cease-fire to permit trucking in food, and secure zones to
permit airdrops by the World Food Programme or others. All available
options for these isolated regions of Afghanistan now require the
leadership of the countries engaged in the war and the cooperation of their
military forces. The humanitarian agencies are doing their very best, but
the parties to this conflict must assume responsibility for preventing this
tragedy of mass starvation.

Only a small fraction of the more than $700 million pledged to date has
been actually paid out. The urgency of the humanitarian situation requires
that all funds committed to the UN Donor Appeal be delivered immediately.
Given the extreme vulnerability of rural Afghanis, food must be appropriate
to their situation, i.e. the sort of food people can and will eat, and must
be delivered in a manner that effectively reaches the hungry.

Protection of Civilians

We have observed a worrying trend toward the erosion and outright
dismantling of the protections guaranteed to civilians in the Geneva
Conventions. The manner in which this war is being conducted appears to
contravene civilians' rights to have access to food aid, to not be the
object of military attack and to enjoy safe refuge. This is manifest in the
ordnance and tactics utilized, in the approach taken to refugees and the
interruption of de-mining activities.

We believe that the protection of civilians must now rise to the top of the
agenda of the parties to the conflict, particularly those of the US and
UK-led coalition. The use of ordnance which has disproportionate impact on
civilians, such as cluster bombs, must cease. In a similar manner, both the
forces which control security on the ground and in the sky have an equal
responsibility to protect civilians. All allegations of improper use of
ordnance must be thoroughly investigated as permitted by the Convention on
Conventional Weapons.

The international humanitarian symbols (such as Red Crescent and Red Cross)
must be respected by all parties. Non-refoulement guarantees must be
provided to all civilians seeking safe refuge, and their rights must be
clearly recognized and respected, fulfilling the spirit and the letter of
the Geneva Conventions. And given threat posed by millions of land mines to
civilians, especially those uprooted by the war, the parties to the
conflict must provide security and resources so that United Nations
de-mining activities can resume.

Future Prospects

The pursuit of future stability in Afghanistan and surrounding countries by
military means alone is fundamentally flawed. Future peace requires
planning now for significant investment in social and economic development.
This must be undertaken regionally, and must address alternatives to the
drug economy, controls on small arms, women's effective participation in
government, and a process for judging those accused of war
crimes. Three meetings in the next month will provide opportunities for the
donor community to kickstart significant investment in economic and social
development. The WTO in Doha, the IMF/WB and G20 in Ottawa, and the WB/ADB
in Islamabad ought to address provisions for improved market access,
increased foreign aid and substantial debt relief for the countries of the
region. Afghani NGOs should be invited to participate in the Islamabad
meeting, if they have not been so already.

We propose that there be equity of investment between the civil and
military aspects of peacebuilding. In other words, for every dollar spent
by the coalition on their military action, a dollar must be put into
economic and social development. Now is the time for those pledges to come
forward.

The initiative led by the United Nation's special representative Brahimi to
facilitate the construction of a stable political future for Afghanistan
merits the support of the international community. In this regard, his work
is greatly under-resourced and requires immediate and substantial financial
support from donor countries. For his efforts to be successful, they must
reach beyond familiar political leaders and this will require dedication as
well as adequate resources. We recommend a clear delineation be established
between his political initiative and the UN's humanitarian efforts.

Afghanistan is the poorest country in Asia. Even before this crisis, it had
one of the lowest life expectancies and highest rates of infant mortality
in the world. In the world's zeal to protect itself from the scourge of
terrorism, we cannot ask the Afghan people for further sacrifices. Their
suffering, their urgent need, their rights to protection and security, must
be at the centre of our attention, our top priority.