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CNN Saturday Morning News

U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Addresses Afghan Relief Efforts

Aired October 20, 2001 - 08:41   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: Right now, a U.N. news conference is being held live in Islamabad, Pakistan talking about the humanitarian efforts going on in Afghanistan and surrounding countries. The topic is, is aid reaching the people who need it?

Antonio Donini, he's the deputy U.N. humanitarian coordinator, spoke just moments ago and had this news to bring to us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONIO DONINI, DEPUTY U.N. HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR: It's from various sources almost daily about U.N. and aid offices being taken over, items seized or looted and staff beaten. The numbers of national staff able to work are decreasing among U.N. agencies and some NGOs. Operational capacity is therefore lessening.

The situation in the country is generally one of flux. Under the current circumstances, United Nations believes that delivering humanitarian assistance is increasingly difficult. If the situation continues to deteriorate, opportunities for aid are expected to further diminish.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Tough news coming out of a U.N. news conference about humanitarian aid. Right there, the deputy U.N. humanitarian coordinator talking about how offices are being raided every day of this humanitarian aid, staff being beaten, warehouses looted, a region simply in flux. And we'll continue to follow this increasingly difficult time for aid groups to get food to the refugees and other people in the area.

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