<

Uzbekistan to Open Ports Along River Border so U.N. Aid can be Ferried to Afghanistan
Thursday, October 25, 2001
(6:35 AM)
By Louis Meixler / The Associated Press

UNICEF has nearly 90 tons of aid supplies to send to Afghanistan, half of it waiting to cross the river in Termez.

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- AP
Uzbekistan agreed to open ports along its southern river border so humanitarian aid can be ferried across to Afghanistan, a top U.N. official said Thursday.

Kenzo Oshima, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, made the announcement after meeting with President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan. Earlier, he met with President Saparmurad Nizayov of Turkmenistan, who has also agreed to expedite the flow of aid.

Oshima said he hoped aid shipments would begin "as soon as possible," but cautioned that details of the agreement still had to be worked out.

"It is our job to get as much food and other relief items inside the country as we can, especially as the winter approaches," Oshima said. "We are all very, very conscious of the fact that winter is approaching."
(More: New Jersey Online News Source)
2001 © The Associated Press.

Dan