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UN says estimated 20-thousand Afghans gather at Pakistan border

The United Nations' refugee agency says nearly 20-thousand Afghans have gathered at Pakistan's southern border crossing, hoping to flee on-going persecution and famine in their country.

South Asia correspondent Jonathan Harley reports:

"The UNHCR says there's been an alarming rise in the numbers of refugees arriving at Pakistan's Chaman border post in the western province of Baluchistan in recent days. Many among this new wave of refugees are Afghan nomads, or Kuchis, who say they have run out of food because of more than three years of severe drought. Others are Pushtuns from ethnically-mixed areas of northern Afghanistan who say they're fleeing because of intimidation. They say they've been harassed or robbed on orders of local non-Pashtun commanders. Witness accounts suggest many more people are on their way, seen on the road walking or driving towards the Pakistani border."

20/02/2002 11:50:19 | ABC Radio Australia News

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