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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.N. Opens New Afghan Refugee Camp in Pakistan

Aired November 12, 2001 - 06:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: After weeks of negotiations, the U.N. has opened a new Afghan refugee camp and received permission to erect others in Pakistan. But as CNN's Amanda Kibel reports, Pakistan remains firm in keeping these refugees only for a short time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANDA KIBEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Waiting for their transport to a place they will never call home. But for now, at least, Roghani Camp, the first UNHCR refugee site to be officially opened inside Pakistan will, for some, be a place to shelter and safety.

PETER KESSLER, U.N. HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES: The UNHCR is moving 50 families to this site in Roghani today. These are people being shifted from the Killi Faizo border camp, which, while suitable for a transit site, is too insecure, perched right on the Frontier, to allow us to safely care for thousands of Afghans.

KIBEL: Killi Faizo was set up more than a month ago on the Chaman border to receive refugees as they crossed. There are now about 3,400 refugees in Killi Faizo, filling the camp to its capacity.

It's taken weeks of negotiating with the Pakistan government for the UNHCR to get permission to put Roghani into operation. Over the next week, it hopes to settle some 3,600 refugees.

UNHCR says it has also been given the go ahead by the Pakistan government to open another 11 refugee sites across the country. But Sunday, the home secretary of Balochistan Province reiterated Pakistan's refugee policy: keep the Afghan refugees inside Afghanistan.

AZMAT HANIF ORUKZAI, BALOCHISTAN HOME SECRETARY: Our government, in fact, impressed upon the United Nation agencies that they should explore the possibility of providing relief and assistance to the refugees on the soil of Afghanistan, so that they do not cross over, because of the prevailing conditions there.

KIBEL: Pakistan's border with Afghanistan remains officially closed, except to -- quote -- "the most vulnerable." The government has also decided it will begin searching for refugees who have crossed illegally, and are sheltering in cities and long-established refugee camps. When found, they, too, will be taken to camps like Roghani, favored by the Pakistani government for its proximity to the Afghan border, allowing the speedy return of the refugees when Afghanistan stabilizes.

(on camera): Despite its apparent cooperation on the refugee issue, the message from the government here is clear. Pakistan, already burdened by some two million Afghan refugees, some of whom have been here for years, has absolutely no intention of taking on the long-term responsibility for any more.

Amanda Kibel, CNN, Quetta, Pakistan.

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