UN Emergency Relief Coordinator arrives

In an effort to highlight the desperate plight of the Afghan people and review the state of preparedness of UN agencies on the ground, UN Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Kenzo Oshima arrived in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Sunday at the request of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

During his mission to Pakistan, Oshima will meet high-level government leaders, donors, UN agencies and aid groups to reaffirm the Secretary-General's concern over the deepening crisis within Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September.

According to the UN, there are a projected 7.5 million vulnerable Afghan civilians in need now, six million within Afghanistan itself. The Secretary-General asked the Under-Secretary to review the state of preparedness of all the UN services on the spot, and to consult with the governments of the countries affected.

While media focus has been on the 1.5 million Afghans expected to leave for neighbouring countries in the wake of the crisis, Oshima is particularly concerned for those who will remain within Afghanistan.

On Thursday, the Secretary-General launched an appeal for US $584 million to strengthen the United Nations humanitarian effort for the beleaguered country, where current conditions are worsening as a result of over two decades of war and the worst drought in 30 years. The appeal aims to assist millions - both those living inside Afghanistan and those seeking shelter in neighbouring states - who are projected to require outside aid to survive.

Annan announced: "We are adjusting our management structures in the field so that we can handle this crisis in all its broad regional implications."

Oshima is scheduled on Wednesday to travel to Mashhad in northeastern Iran, and then to the capital, Tehran.