92001E1028

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1028/01

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Would the Commission outline how it intends to respond to the news stories emanating from Pakistan about Afghan people who are apparently living in appalling conditions in refugee camps?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 2001)

The Commission is aware, from its own sources and from press reports, of the conditions prevailing in certain camps for refugees in Pakistan, notably the camp at Jalozai, where conditions are said to be precarious.

The Commission, through the European Community's Humanitarian Office (ECHO), has already made available 1 135 million from its 2001 budget to improve the condition of refugees in two camps in Pakistan: Shamshatoo and Jalozai. These funds, allocated to the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) International Rescue Committee and the Danish Refugee Council and to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will, in Shamshatoo, be used to improve basic hygiene, transportation of drinking water to those parts of the camp which have no access to wells, the distribution of 5 000 hygiene kits and 5 000 kerosene lamps. Three wells with generator pumps will be dug and a hand-pump water distribution system installed. It is hoped that some 43 500 people will benefit from this operation.

UNHCR will use its funding from ECHO for the purchase of 4 500 tents, 18 500 blankets, 8 500 cooking sets, 12 000 heaters and 12 000 kerosene lamps for eventual use in the Jalozai camp, once the Pakistani authorities have given UNHCR permission to screen the refugees in this camp.

In this regard, the Union Troika, conscious of the situation in the Jalozai camp, met the Pakistan authorities and made a démarche on 24 February 2001 expressing concern at the Afghan refugee situation in Pakistan, particularly in Jalozai and noting the potential for a humanitarian disaster there.