ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: The number of Afghans arriving in Balochistan has risen sharply with about 8,000 believed to have crossed into Chaman area alone during the past four days, UNHCR said on Thursday.
Speaking at a news conference, a UNHCR spokesperson, Peter Kessler, said that some 3,000 refugees crossed over into Pakistan on Monday and another 2,000 on Tuesday.
He said that previous unconfirmed reports indicated there were about 1,000 new arrivals daily into the province with a similar number entering the NWFP. The Pakistani authorities continue to allow humanitarian cases to enter the country for medical treatment although the border with Afghanistan is officially closed, he said.
About the preparations for refugee sites, he said, “two sites, Tor Tangi and Roghani, located south of Chaman, are likely to be the first camps to become operational in Balochistan.”
UNHCR spokesman said many more vehicles are now travelling to the Pakistan border from Kandahar, the stronghold of the ruling Taliban.
A UNOCHA spokesman, in response to a question, said that the current population of Kandahar has been reduced to less than 40 per cent.
Situation in Afghanistan: The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA) spokesperson, Hasan Firdous told newsmen that five children were killed on Thursday as a result of mine explosion in Mazar-i- Sharif. He said the children were apparently looking for food when they stepped on the mines. Some 40 to 100 persons die every week as a result of mine explosions in Afghanistan every week, he said.
The UNOCHA spokesperson said that the humanitarian situation inside Afghanistan has become critical with temperatures dropping below sub-zero level.
In a press release issued on Thursday, Human Rights Watch called upon Pakistan to halt plans to set up refugee camps in the tribal areas and find alternate sites for incoming refugees.
“The tribal areas are unstable and insecure, difficult to reach and lack an adequate water supply and infrastructure,” the press release said.
Raising concerns about the risks posed to refugees forced to enter Pakistan through heavily mined unofficial routes and passes, the human rights NGO said that although the influx of refugees into neighbouring countries has been smaller than expected, refugees may be deterred by border closures as well as the high cost of transport and smuggler’s ‘fees’ needed to enter unofficially.
In another press release issued earlier in the day, Human Rights Watch expressing concern about the bombardment by the US forces of two clearly-marked warehouses of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in broad daylight on October 16, Human Rights Watch called on the US-led military alliance to take steps to minimize injury to civilians and civilian objects as required by international humanitarian law in its air campaign over Afghanistan.
Human Rights Watch urged all military forces in Afghanistan to ensure the safety of representatives and assets of humanitarian relief agencies.
Reminding the warring parties their obligations under the International humanitarian law to respect the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems, Human Rights Watch said that at about 1pm on October 16, several U.S. bombs directly hit two warehouses of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) located two kilometres from the Kabul airport.
Humanitarian relief agencies have been hit in air strikes on at least two other occasions but there is no evidence that the agency facilities were the intended targets.
APP adds: Balochistan Minister for Industries Sardar Mohammed Ali Jogezai has advised the Afghan refugees living in Pakistan to keep themselves away from agitations or they will be expelled.
Speaking at the meeting of the Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry on he said that the Afghan refugees should not interfere in Pakistan’s internal matters.
He reminded them that Pakistan has been hosting the Afghan refugees for the past 20 years and they should not reward the Pakistani people for their courtesy and hospitality by demonstrating and damaging their properties and by indulge in smuggling. He asked the Afghans to do legal business.
He lauded the services of frontier corps, army monitoring teams and customs officials for the people of Chaman and border areas and urged them to cooperate with them in their official duties.
Mr Jogezai deplored frequent agitations and rallies and said this had badly affected business activities. The worst hit are the poor who earn their livelihood on daily basis.
“India could also take benefit of the situation and create trouble on our eastern border”, he maintained.
He said 20 per cent export had been decreased which means the export target could not be achieved. Therefore, the people should avoid participating in rallies and other such activities detrimental to their business.