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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview with FADIL DULMAN

Aired October 28, 2001 - 10:27   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to talk a little bit more now about what's being done to help Afghans who are caught in the crossfire in this war against terrorism. Fadil Dulman is with the Canadian Red Cross and comes to us from the Al Jazeera bureau in Kabul.

Thanks so much for being with us, Fadil. Let's talk a little bit about how you feel you're being accepted there as a western worker. What's been the reaction?

FADIL DULMAN, CANADIAN RED CROSS: Actually, it's a Canadian relief foundation. The reason I came back, and I was away before the strikes, and I decided to come back and to take the risk and at least one international staff should be here where I can facilitate the work for other NGOs; and also I managed to do some work for U.N., and we're trying to get convoys for more food program. And there are risks, of course, but we are doing a good operation.

PHILLIPS: As you -- we have seen the pictures and the video of these areas and of the refugees that so desperately need help. Can you describe the conditions even before the war? This is obviously a lifestyle these folks have -- are used to, but is this getting any better? Are they seeing light at the end of the tunnel?

DULMAN: Actually, I worked in Afghanistan even during the Russian occupation, and I worked in areas close to Kabul, and I am back to the same place. Afghans always suffer from hunger, and we all know there was a war before this and then civil war. The situation is very bad and this one is quite different because winter is so close, and most of the Afghan population are really depending on war-food program, food from U.N., and if we don't get food to a lot of the families before 15 of November, even some districts or some provinces before 15 of December, we could see thousands and thousands of Afghans would die and starve.

PHILLIPS: Fadil, as you give food and clothing and medical help, conversation wise, what do you say to these people to try and quell their fears?

DULMAN: The situation is really -- if I talk about Kabul, because we really stay in Kabul and we move around every day, and the strikes are really so heavy and for the past 48 hours, there were the worst strikes. There were targets in the middle of the city and close to apartment buildings, and in one situation, there was a strike close to 800 families living in apartment buildings, in the middle of the night, and there were two bombs, and I don't know if they were cruise or not. And I went in the morning.

The 800 families with their kids ran away from the building and spent six hours in the middle of the night in cold weather. All the children, they were sick from cold and fever. There is a fear, and every time they see a plane up in the sky; so really, the situation is desperate.

Medical supply are short -- shortage in medical supplies and food. There is a lot of food coming from WFP, and I think the situation in Kabul is little bit good now but for future, if this continues, we will have really -- I could say Kabul will be a ghost city, because a lot of strikes are really concentrating on Kabul.

PHILLIPS: Fadil Dulman, your efforts are quite admirable with the Canadian relief foundation. Thanks so much for giving us your time.

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