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KABUL RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO SCRATCH OUT EXISTENCE
A EurasiaNet Photo Essay by Jason Eskenazi: 7/26/02
The human rights group Amnesty International has expressed
concern over the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees'
policy of encouraging the rapid return of Afghan refugees.
The country's social infrastructure is unable to cope with
the large number of returning refugees, and the resulting
turmoil is placing additional stress on an already hard-pressed
transitional government, the human rights group says.
According to UNHCR, about 1.25 million refugees have returned
to Afghanistan, the bulk arriving from Pakistan. Amnesty International
stressed that while it supported the concept of voluntary
repatriation, it was reluctant to promote refugee return at
the present time. The rapid rate of return is causing overcrowding
in some areas of Afghanistan. In addition, the scarcity of
resources is fueling internal displacement.
"UNHCR has recently altered its position on refugee
returns to Afghanistan. While stopping short of promoting
voluntary repatriation, UNHCR is encouraging states to engage
in 'active counseling,' including of asylum seekers, reporting
that 'the time is now ripe for Afghans - wherever they are
and at whatever stage they may be in the asylum process -
to be offered the option of voluntary repatriation,'"
said an Amnesty International report entitled "Afghanistan:
Continuing Need For Protection and Standards for Return of
Afghan Refugees."
"Amnesty International is concerned that UNHCR's new
position reflects a preoccupation with relieving asylum systems
in certain refugee receiving states, which should not be a
primary consideration in working towards achieving sustainable
protection and security for refugees," the report continues.
Many Afghan repatriates have resettled in areas riven by
internal conflict among various armed groups. The lack of
security continues to pose a problem for Afghanistan's transitional
government. For example, serious clashes reportedly occurred
among Pashtun and Tajik militia groups in mid July in the
western province of Herat, reportedly leaving a dozen dead
on both sides. Pashtuns in the region have complained about
looting at the hands of Tajik fighters loyal to the regional
warlord Ismail Khan.
Despite the security void, Western governments remain reluctant
to expand the responsibilities of an international peacekeeping
force in Afghanistan. At present, the peacekeeping force is
stationed exclusively in Kabul.
While a sense of security exists in Kabul, city residents
continue to face challenges as the struggle to rebuild. Photographer
Jason Eskenazi recently spent time in the Afghan capital documenting
the reconstruction process. A selection of his photos comprises
this photo essay.
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Posted July 26, 2002 © Eurasianet
http://www.eurasianet.org
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