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CNN Live Sunday

Uzbekistan Becomes Last Stop on the Humanitarian Aid Trail to Afghanistan

Aired November 11, 2001 - 15:37   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The United Nations refugee relief effort now airlifting thousands of tents and sheets from Pakistan, their final destination, Afghanistan. But the first stop is in Uzbekistan, and from there the delivery effort takes a difficult path to Afghans in need.

CNN's Alessio Vinci has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.N. and Uzbek officials say the town of Termez on the Afghan-Uzbek border will soon become a major hub for the humanitarian relief into Afghanistan. Aid agencies have been stockpiling tons of wheat and other supplies for weeks now, and the first shipment is expected to leave Termez next Wednesday.

Despite the recent capture of the Taliban stronghold of Mazar-e Sharif by the Northern Alliance, less than two hours' drive from here, officials say it is still not safe enough to allow aid trucks to use the only bridge linking Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Instead, aid will be ferried across the Amu-Daria River on barges.

SADIQ SAFAEV, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: We inspected the old facilities, and within that so far the barges will be -- will be sufficient toward delivering those goods which we already have here. The question about in regard with the bridges will be reconsidered in accordance with the development of the situation in northern part of Afghanistan.

VINCI: The so-called Friendship Bridge has been closed since the Taliban took control of Mazar-e Sharif in 1998, and Uzbek officials seek additional security guarantees before allowing access to it.

(on camera): Opening up the bridge would speed up the relief effort and increase the volume of aid sent into Afghanistan. U.N. officials here estimate that in northern Afghanistan alone, half a million people have been internally displaced by the recent fighting and up to three million are in desperate need of aid.

(voice-over): U.N. officials say relief agencies have reestablished contact with their local staff in Mazar-e Sharif, but they say security on the Afghan side of the border remains a concern.

RICHARD CONROY, U.N. COORDINATOR, UZBEKISTAN: Obviously, the first run is a test run. And so, we will -- we're restricting even our own international staff who actually participates in that.

VINCI: The Taliban may no longer control Mazar-e Sharif, but Uzbek border guards remain on high alert, and the first aid convoy from here will not be an easy ride.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Termez, Uzbekistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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