3,000 Afghans arrive in Iran Red Crescent border camps over last 48 hours
25 October 2001

IThere is now a growing flood of displaced Afghans arriving at two camps established by the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Afghan border. Latest figures today show that the camps are home to 6,500 people; 3,000 of whom have arrived in the last 48 hours.

"There has been a significant increase in the last two days with 3,000 people arriving. There are 6,000 in Makaki camp and 500 at Mile 46. We are supporting them from our national disaster preparedness stocks and will definitely require international assistance to meet the growing needs," said Iranian Red Crescent International Director, Mr Mostafa Mohaghegh.

Iran shares a 900-kilometre border with Afghanistan and both camps are located some 30 to 40 kilometres from the Iranian city of Zabol in the south-eastern province of Sistan-va-Baluchestan.

The Afghans are accommodated in tents in a 15-square metre plots. On arrival, each family is provided with canned food for the first three days. Once provided with kitchen utensils, they receive daily rations that include rice, bread, oil, tea and sugar. The Iranian Red Crescent has enough stock for 100,000 people for one month. The camps have electricity supplied by generators and water is trucked in as the region has suffered a four-year drought. Support for vaccination programmes and hospital care is provided as necessary by the Iranian Ministry of Health.

With winter expected to start within two weeks, preparations for setting up a third camp in the area are already well underway. The Red Crescent says that available resources can cater for up to 100,000 refugees along Sistan-va-Baluchestan's boundaries, and about the same number along the north-eastern border province of Khorasan, where no population movement has been reported yet.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is mobilising support for the operation through a 40 million Swiss francs ($25 million) appeal. An 80-bed field hospital as well as mobile water treatment units are on standby, and will be flown into the country in the event of a major influx of Afghan people toward the border.

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

Denis McClean, Head, Media Service: Tel: +41 22 730 4428/ +41 79 217 3357

Jemini Pandya, Information Officer Tel.: +41 22 730 4570/+ 41 79 217 3374

Duty phone: Tel.: +41 79 416 3881

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.