Quality of the aid to Afghanistan is doubtful

The US does not only drop bombs, but food packets as well. The question is whether those packets land on the right spot. Military support with humanitarian aid does not have a positive history. Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop fears it will end up in a humanitarian disaster.

Beside the bombings on Afghan targets, the Americans also drop food packets. The packets, which are mainly intended as a PR-instrument, contain peanut butter and the American flag. Whether the food drops can prevent a major humanitarian crisis is quite doubtful. With this manner of 'distribution', there is no certainty that they will reach the persons most in need of help.

Because the main part of Afghanistan is not accessible for help at this moment, plans are being made to charge the American ground forces with a humanitarian job after the bombings. The idea is to organise camps in Afghanistan in order to contain the stream of refugees to the Afghan neighbours.

Aid delivered by soldiers implies an extra complicating factor. They are an extension of politics. During the Kosovo crisis Doctors without Borders criticised the extensive role NATO played, because this resulted in the fact that the Serbian regime could consider neutral relief organisations as NATO allies. It will not be a surprise how the Taliban will react when American soldiers set up refugee camps. Military attacks on refugee camps would become a real risk.

Should the refugees nevertheless decide to cross the border, the problems are incalculable. The only option Pakistan offered to UN-refugee organisation UNHCR is to shelter the refugees on the border territory. This can not only form a front line of possible battles, but it is also totally unsuitable for providing refugees with essential relief. Although certain relief organisations have already expressed that they may not be ableto start operationsin these areas, it seems that UNHCR-Chief Ruud Lubbers has no other optionthan to go go along with the Pakistan wishes.

Providing aid organised by Americans entails end of independence relief worker

The stream of refugees is accompanied by a lot more safety risks. It is likely that suspects of international crimes, armed rebellion and terrorism are among the refugees. Therefore, the refugees should be checked for possession of arms and their background should be investigated.

The fact that in 1994 there were armed groups among the Rwandese refugees was one of the reasons for a new crisis 2 years later. Now again, it looks like a screening of the Afghan refugees will not take place, with all its possible consequences.

Shelter of the refugees already is a major problem in the area. Pakistan and Iran together accommodate more than 3.5 million (!) refugees. There are groups of refugees who have been living in these countries since 1983. Supported by the attitude of the rich western countries, which refuse to accommodate much smaller amounts of applicants for asylum, Iran and Pakistan have announced that they are not prepared to accept another 1.5 million refugees onto their territory and they (still) keep their borders officially closed.

Given the fact that during the past few months, both countries have forcibly repatriated refugees, it is obvious that these countries will continue to do so, even though the situation in Afghanistan still is entirely unsuited for safe shelter.

Commitment to relief by donor countries already has exceeded the request by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He had requested 584 million dollars for six months of relief. A lot of relief organisations are raring to get their share in the aid operation.

Within the UN a fierce competitive struggle has begun. UNHCR has its eye on about 270 million dollars - which is equal to the size of almost one third of its annual budget. Over the last few years, the organisation struggled with severe financial problems because notably the European Union cut off the flow of money.

For Lubbers, this first major crisis since his appointment could offer a chance to brush up UNHCR's damaged image. Lubbers would like his organisation to lead the entire operation, while at this point this is being done by another UN-office. A recent investigation revealed that envy between the many UN-organisations seriously impedes the actual coordination.

In general, UNHCR contracts a large part of the relief out to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The European Union, the US and other countries also channel their help and to that end often involve their 'own' NGOs. During the crises in Rwanda and Kosovo many dozens or even hundreds of relief organisations went into action.

A number of the sometimes hastily founded NGOs had little or no experience in relief to refugees. Based on the large sums of money for Afghan relief, we may assume that again, a number of inexperienced organisations will be drawn to this like flies to honey.

During the days and weeks to come, political grounds and humanitarian goals will totally interfere with each other. Those who wish to offer aid in Afghanistan under American managment will have to put aside the principles of independence and impartiality, recognised principles of humanitarian relief.

Even more important is whether this relief will be really effective, as long as no answers have been found to the military role in relief, protection of refugees and the coordination of aid in the Afghan region.

Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop is the manager of ICVA, an international association of almost ninety relief organisations, which has its seat in Geneva.