ISLAMABAD (November 1, 2001) -- CARE International is mobilizing an aid convoy to Afghanistan from Pakistan.

"This convoy is a test run that will allow CARE to better evaluate the logistics involved in getting aid into the country, "says Paul Barker, who is now heading up CARE's Afghanistan operations from Pakistan. Should it prove successful, it will allow CARE to begin sending and distributing large amounts of food and relief items in Afghanistan," says Barker.

CARE is pre-positioning supplies to help Afghan refugees in Pakistan but believes that the epicentre of the humanitarian crisis is, and will remain, in Afghanistan. Therefore the organization is exploring ways that will allow relief operations to resume and expand despite the current military action and deteriorating security situation.

"There are many hundreds of thousands of people facing starvation in Afghanistan and we and other colleague organizations have food and other essential items that can help these people. We must strive to overcome the difficulties posed by the current situation and find ways to fulfill our commitment to the people of Afghanistan," adds Barker.

The pilot convoy will be transporting a hundred tons of wheat to sites in and around Kabul and Logar,--enough to feed approximately 2,000 people for one month. The distribution will be carried out jointly by CARE and ARIA, a local humanitarian organization. But the significance of the convoy goes far beyond the amount of food it is carrying.

The convoy, combined with other assessment methods used by CARE, will allow the organization to more accurately gauge the humanitarian needs inside the country. In turn, this assessment will enable CARE to adapt its programs accordingly.

CARE has been working for decades to help communities in Afghanistan find sustainable solutions to their problems. CARE continues to support primary education within the country and is also providing clean water to a quarter of a million people in Kabul.

The long-term needs of the country are complex.

"What the people of Afghanistan need more than anything is peace and stability so that with the support of CARE and other organizations they can begin to rebuild their country and their lives," concludes Barker.

About CARE - CARE International, one of the world's largest international humanitarian organizations, helps people and communities achieve lasting solutions to poverty. In 2000, CARE programs benefited more than 27 million people in more than 60 countries. CARE has worked in Afghanistan for nearly 30 years and has nearly 400 staff in the country.

Media Contact: