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Humanitarian Success Story in Afghanistan
Friday, January 18, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
At the same time U.S. and anti-Taliban forces were liberating Afghanistan, an unprecedented humanitarian operation was also under way.

The chief of U.S. Central Command, Army Gen. Tommy Franks, said Americans should be proud of that effort. Franks spoke Jan. 18 at a "cyber news conference" from Tampa, Fla. He said the humanitarian effort has saved thousands of lives and points to the fact that the operation against the Taliban and Al Qaeda has been successful.

He said 11,000 metric tons of food and medical supplies have moved into the country so far this month. This follows 116,000 metric tons delivered in December. He said officials are hoping to move in 45,000 tons by the end of January.

The supplies are moving into the country via all 11 major convoy routes. He also said nine airfields are open in Afghanistan to receive humanitarian supplies.

He said the United Nations' international humanitarian relief staff has moved back into the country. Nongovernmental relief agencies are also moving back in. More than 35,000 refugees have returned to their homes, but this still leaves millions of Afghans in refugee camps outside the country and internally displaced, he said.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan