MSF raises concerns over camps inside Afghanistan

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Iran on Monday expressed concern over plans by Tehran to establish a set of nine refugee camps inside Afghan territory along its border in the event of a major influx into the area. Describing the move as "tricky" under present circumstances, the French NGO maintained that security and logistical viability were crucial for such a plan to work. "It’s a question of what the real situation is," Bruno Jochum, MSF's head of mission in Tehran, told IRIN. "In principle, we don’t have a position against camps inside Afghanistan, but under present circumstances, with nobody able to work on the Taliban side, such camps become impossible," he said. Despite calls by the United Nations on Iran to open its borders following the start of US-led attacks on Afghanistan on 7 October, Tehran maintains that it can no longer shoulder the presence in the country of any more Afghans. Instead, the government has proposed establishing six refugee camps in Khorasan and three in Sistan-Baluchestan along on the Afghan side of Iran's 900 km border with Afghanistan. Security for both refugees and aid workers, however, remains problematic under such a plan. Regarding the Mile-46 refugee camp in Sistan-Baluchestan, one of only two camps actually in existence inside Afghan territory, and currently under the control of the opposition Northern Alliance, Jochum expressed strong reservations in terms of security, given the camp's proximity to the front line, estimated to be 15 to 18 km away. "The camp could become a military target or a recruitment centre, where the recruitment of soldiers could take place," Jochum warned. "Right now, the balance of power is between a few hundred solders. If one side is able to recruit more forces inside refugee camps, it could become a military issue," he said. Nonetheless, MSF confirmed that it would step in with assistance where necessary and where circumstances allowed. "We have to be pragmatic. If there is a population in need, and security conditions for our staff are met, we’ll give step by step support," he stated. "To refuse to give all assistance, there would have to be very serious concerns with regard to security." MSF has proposed providing assistance at Mile-46, along with the Iranian Red Crescent and health ministry, which are already operating there. The spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mohammad Nouri, told IRIN on Monday that about 600 Afghan refugees being accommodated there, and another 6,000 at the Mahkaki camp, the only other operative camp, which is two kilometres inside Afghan territory bordering Sistan-Baluchestan Province. According to UNHCR, Mahkaki has experienced a substantial population jump over last week when the figure was 1,500. Of the situation in Khorasan province, Pauline Horrill, the MSF medical coordinator, who earlier visited prospective sites along the border, said: "As of today, it is not practical in terms of protection or logistic issues, such as water." The situation in the province was different because it was hypothetical, she told IRIN, neither established camps nor refugees being present there. "We are taking the position today that it is not practical given the presence of the Taliban." "However, in Mile-46, where there were already refugees, a different analysis was necessary," Horrill said. Even though the security situation was extremely tenuous in Khorasan Province, and capable of changing by the day, MSF believed that the needs of the people outweighed any major security issues, Horrill stated. "We decided we would start small activities on a very prudent basis and be ready to change," she said. Meanwhile, should things in Khorasan change, with the arrival there tomorrow, say, of 100,000 refugees, then MSF would have to re-evaluate the situation, Horrill noted. "In principle, it is clear we are not supportive of camps at the proposed sites under current circumstances," Horrill said. "But on the practical side, where there are refugees and where we can assist securely, then we will be pragmatic." She also said that while at present it was feasible to work at Mile-46, such might not be the case tomorrow. In Khorasan Province, MSF was monitoring the border situation in tandem with UNHCR to establish the presence of refugees, and would change its position as events demanded, Horrill said. "Fortunately, there are no refugees, as the sites currently being proposed are not located in safe areas." MSF maintains as soon as assistance can be safely provided within Afghanistan, action towards doing so would become its priority. "It is much better to give assistance in the towns of Afghanistan than coming into a crisis situation where you have refugees crossing the border," Jochum said. However, conditions in terms of security and access would have to be in place, he noted. "To accomplish such a task would require the complete cooperation of the Taliban and, for the moment, we are not in that situation," Jochum said. "Of course this can evolve, depending on who controls the area and what agreements can be discussed at a later stage." Last week, the Iranian government announced it had not reached an agreement with the Taliban. According to assessments conducted by MSF and UN agencies, as well as by other NGOs, even if such an agreement could be reached, the situation would remain dubious. "Camps would have to be on the Iranian side of the border to offer any real protection," Jochum stressed. Moreover, an issue of major concern was how the basic needs of the population in terms of water, food and shelter could be met, he noted. "Basically, these people are in the middle of the desert, and you would have to drill very deep wells to provide some water, or use existing wells or those tens of miles away," Jochum said.