Red Cross Red Crescent Flies in additional medical supplies for Afghanistan
12 October 2001

Medical supplies to treat up to 250,000 people in Afghanistan for a maximum of six months, have today been flown to the Pakistan town of Peshawar in the north west of the country by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The supplies, in 50 medical kits, are the first of 500 kits to be sent to Afghanistan as part of an ongoing effort to continue the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent inside the country, despite the military air strikes. The supplies are destined for 48 Afghan Red Crescent clinics across Afghanistan which provide an essential health service to an impoverished people living with more than 20 years of war. In the last year alone, they have treated more than 600,000 people and provided 1.2 million services.

Currently, the Red Crescent clinics, supported by the International Federation, have less than a month's worth of supplies and it is vital to get the medical supplies into Afghanistan as quickly as possible. The International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies is working closely with its sister organisation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which is also continuing its extensive humanitarian programmes inside Afghanistan, to ensure the medical kits reach the Red Crescent clinics in the coming weeks. The ICRC will assist the Red Crescent clinics by receiving and transporting the supplies from Peshawar to the Afghan capital, Kabul.

"These health clinics are a lifeline to Afghan communities. The Afghan Red Crescent, with support from more than 100 local International Federation staff, are still managing to keep them running. We have to make sure they continue to do so," says Satoshi Sugai, International Federation programme coordinator for Afghanistan. "The coordination with the ICRC is vital for these clinics."

The medical shipment follows other relief supplies including tents, blankets, plastic sheeting and water and sanitation equipment already being flown into Pakistan by the Red Cross Red Crescent. This is part of a plan to pre-position relief supplies for up to 250,000 refugees who could cross into Pakistan. Additional supplies of tents and blankets are due to arrive in Peshawar on Friday, sent by the German Red Cross.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

In Geneva:
Denis McClean, Head, Media Service: Tel.: +41 22 730 4428 /+ 41 79 416 3881
Jemini Pandya, Information Officer Tel.: +41 22 730 4570 / + 41 79 217 3374

In Pakistan
Andrei Neacsu, Information Delegate: Tel.: +92 300 856 8202
Eva Calvo, Information Delegate: Tel.: +92 300 856 8201

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.