World Concern Rallies the Northwest to Help Afghan Refugees

World Concern
Thursday, 27 September 2001

Even before September 11th, the BBC had reported, "One third of the Afghan population has fled abroad – despairing of a future at home."

Afghanistan, a country of 26 million people, already had one of the largest refugee populations in the world. The people have been fleeing war, their worst drought on record, persecution and near famine conditions, bound for Tajikistan, Pakistan and any other country that would take them. At least one fifth of the country already faced starvation and had become almost totally dependent upon humanitarian aid.

Now the vast majority of humanitarian aid agencies have left the country.

Seattle based international relief and development organization World Concern had worked in Afghanistan for 20 years until recently, when along with many other agencies, they were pressured to leave by the increasingly extremist Taliban regime and security concerns heightened by growing instability. Now World Concern relief director Mr. Kelly Miller states that the agency is bolstering its efforts to get relief to Afghan refugees in the surrounding countries.

"For the past three years, World Concern has supplied clothing, medical supplies and food to Afghan refugees in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and northern Afghanistan. Now we are working with partners to expand that effort, if possible, into Pakistan," stated Miller.

Beginning October 1st, part of those efforts include encouraging people in the northwest to donate hygiene SHARE Kits for refugees. Each kit will include a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washcloth, and other basic hygiene related items. Many families fleeing Afghanistan left their homes with nothing, fearing for their very survival. The kits will be given to refugees along with food and shelter at camps set up in neighboring countries. World Concern is asking people to include $5.00 with each kit to handle shipping costs. Generous donations above that amount will go directly toward food and shelter for refugees and will be greatly appreciated.

The current goal is to collect 15,000 kits by October 21st, which then will be immediately shipped with a previously scheduled container. Kits can be dropped off at World Concern's Supply Center in Lynnwood at 196th and Aurora or at participating area schools and churches.

For more information related to the hygiene kits, please call World Concern's Supply Center in Lynnwood at 425-771-5700 or go online to www.worldconcern.org. Cash donations may be sent to World Concern, Afghan Refugee Relief Fund, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133 or made by calling (800)755-5022.

For more information, or to contact World Concern, see their website at: www.worldconcern.org