U.N. Officials Appeal for $1 Billion to Help Afghan Refugees Return Home

U.N. officials led by Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar launched an appeal Friday for humanitarian aid to help resettle Afghan refugees in their country.

Prince Saddrudin Aga Khan, U.N. coordinator for humanitarian and economic assistance programs relating to Afghanistan, said $1.17 billion is needed for their repatriation in the next 18 months.

Aga Khan said the second phase of resettlement from 1990 to 1993 will require another $839 million for long-term rehabilitation programs.

Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, 3.5 million Afghan refugees have fled to Pakistan and more than 1 million to Iran.

Perez de Cuellar said in his appeal, “My job is to help Afghans to help themselves.”

“I am certain that member states in responding to this appeal will demonstrate once again in the case of Afghanistan a high degree of international solidarity, and thus enable the United Nations system to play its uniquely effective role,” he said.

U.N.-mediated accords signed April 14 in Geneva provided for the withdrawal, starting May 15, of the estimated 115,000 Soviet troops within nine months and permit voluntary repatriation of the refugees.