Urgent aid obligation

Washington is not short of money when it comes to its war against terrorism. Analysts estimate US$1 billion (HK$7.78 billion), a week has been pumped into the military machine that has been raining bombs on Afghanistan since October 6.

On Wednesday, US$100 million was donated by the US to the Philippines to help with that country's battle with extremist groups in the Muslim-dominant south. On Tuesday, the reward for the capture of Osama bin Laden was increased from US$5 million to US$25 million.

Why, then, does the US seem so reluctant to alleviate the misery of the millions of Afghans directly affected by the war in which it has become involved?

Aid agencies have for many weeks been warning of a humanitarian crisis, the risk vastly increased as the harsh winter approaches. Those displaced by the war or frightened because of the security situation have fled to border refugee camps, where their numbers are growing every day. The long-warned-of winter has struck. Aid needs to be distributed urgently, but agencies in many parts of Afghanistan are stymied by a lack of safety for their workers.

With thousands of troops at their disposal, it would be easy for the US to provide the necessary support to help aid workers move their badly needed food and clothing to where it needs to be distributed. But the troops remain undeployed and vital aid stocks remain locked in warehouses.

Some aid agencies are ignoring the safety risks and putting their own personnel's lives on the line to save the starving and needy. But most are waiting for a situation where the aid is assured of getting through to the people who need it most.