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Thousands of Afghani refugees cross into Pak
Intense American bombing of Kandahar, the Taliban`s spiritual headquarters, in recent days has sent a fresh wave of panic-stricken refugees streaming across the Pakistan border.
Intense American bombing of Kandahar, the Taliban's spiritual headquarters, in recent days has sent a fresh wave of panic-stricken refugees streaming across the Pakistan border.
But 60,000 Afghans have crossed into the country over mountain roads since the US bombing began. The United Nations estimates that more than 3-thousand people made the perilous journey on Friday to escape the aerial assault and the worsening situation in the Afghan city.
Families, who paid bribes to reach Pakistan and relative safety, have described a break down in law and order within the Taliban-controlled territory. Looting is said to be widespread. Aid agencies say the air raids have forced people, already impoverished by decades of war and a prolonged drought, to become even more desperate.
The UN's High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, has told a UN briefing that the number of refugees fleeing Afghanistan could grow exponentially as the US-led war against terrorism wears on. Lubbers said that the bombed cities of Jalalabad and Kandahar have virtually emptied out and that the majority of Afghans leaving their homes have fled into the mountains, not to Pakistan.
Pakistan, which already has about 2 million Afghan refugees has officially closed its borders to new arrivals. Bureau Report
But 60,000 Afghans have crossed into the country over mountain roads since the US bombing began. The United Nations estimates that more than 3-thousand people made the perilous journey on Friday to escape the aerial assault and the worsening situation in the Afghan city.
Families, who paid bribes to reach Pakistan and relative safety, have described a break down in law and order within the Taliban-controlled territory. Looting is said to be widespread. Aid agencies say the air raids have forced people, already impoverished by decades of war and a prolonged drought, to become even more desperate.
The UN's High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, has told a UN briefing that the number of refugees fleeing Afghanistan could grow exponentially as the US-led war against terrorism wears on. Lubbers said that the bombed cities of Jalalabad and Kandahar have virtually emptied out and that the majority of Afghans leaving their homes have fled into the mountains, not to Pakistan.
Pakistan, which already has about 2 million Afghan refugees has officially closed its borders to new arrivals. Bureau Report