CARE Outlines the Role of International Forces to Protect and Assist Afghan People

ATLANTA (Nov. 30, 2001) - CARE released a statement today calling for local authorities within Afghanistan to act immediately to protect innocent people and to support the delivery of humanitarian aid. As the Bonn talks to establish a new national government in Afghanistan continue, CARE also outlined essential points for the international community to consider in the event that it decides to deploy a multi-national military presence in Afghanistan to protect the delivery of humanitarian aid.

CARE President Peter Bell, who recently returned from Pakistan, outlined the organization’s urgent concern for the people of Afghanistan: "At present, people in Afghanistan fear for their safety, and they are understandably suspicious of the many armed factions who have a poor track record in keeping the peace. Peace and bread are the immediate priorities of these long-suffering people, and the international community needs to act now to ensure that these needs are met."

Bell noted: "The military can be crucial in facilitating humanitarian assistance. At the same time, the involvement of troops in humanitarian affairs must enhance and not undermine civilian leadership, the quality of humanitarian aid and the work of local civil institutions. The overall strategy for and management of the humanitarian effort must be under civilian control, and any military participation should be in a supportive, rather than a leadership role."

CARE Afghanistan Director Paul Barker said: "CARE has been active in Afghanistan for nearly 30 years, including through the recent conflict. Our Afghan staff and the people we serve are telling us that it will be absolutely critical to maintain a very clear distinction between forces of the U.S.-led Coalition and any separate force deployed for peace-keeping or humanitarian purposes. It will be essential for any new multi-national force to be seen not as the conqueror or an occupying power, but as a temporary presence to assist Afghans in getting through their humanitarian crisis and political transition."

To read CARE’s statement on the role of international forces in protecting and assisting the people of Afghanistan, please visit http://www.care.org/info_center/afghanistan/a_statement3.asp.

CARE, one of the world’s largest international humanitarian organizations, helps people and communities achieve lasting solutions to poverty. In Afghanistan, CARE is providing clean water for approximately 250,000 people in Kabul, in addition to providing food and health training to widows and their families. In southeast Afghanistan, CARE has supported the education of 19,000 pupils in rural communities, 43 percent of whom are girls. In response to the current emergency, CARE is distributing food and winter supplies and also is seeking resources with which to triple the size of its programs. For more information about CARE, please visit www.care.org.