UNHCR draws attention to humanitarian considerations

NEW YORK, 18 September (IRIN) - UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers urged US leaders on Tuesday to weigh carefully the humanitarian consequences of any actions in Afghanistan. "It is important to be aware of the already desperate plight of millions of Afghan civilians and of the humanitarian consequences to ordinary people while formulating policy options," he said. "We must do everything possible to avoid further displacement of innocent civilians." Lubbers expressed his deepest condolences to US officials for last week's terrorist attacks and appealed to Americans to guard against any xenophobic backlash, particularly in view of recent incidents against Arab and Muslim communities in the United States. "We are shocked and saddened by the deaths of so many innocent civilians and by the horrendous destruction we have seen in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania," Lubbers said. "As emotions run high and while Americans and the rest of the world grieve following last Tuesday's terrorist attacks, we should refrain from pointing fingers and inciting hatred against innocent groups such as refugees." Lubbers made his remarks while on an official visit to Washington, DC, where he met with State Department and other US officials. [ENDS]