AFGHAN RED CROSS(VOA, 9 JAN)

DATE=1/9/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-225026 TITLE=AFGHAN RED CROSS (L) BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL DATELINE=ISLAMABAD CONTENT= VOICED AT:

INTRO: OFFICIALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS SAY THEY ARE FACING A SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF FUNDS FOR THEIR HUMANITARIAN WORK IN AFGHANISTAN. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS.

TEXT: THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT MANY PEOPLE RECEIVE IN AFGHANISTAN COMES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (I-C-R-C).

THE I-C-R-C PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE TO FIGHTERS WOUNDED IN BATTLE AND TO CIVILIANS AT HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE GROUP ALSO COLLECTS AND HELPS TO IDENTIFY THE BODIES OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE KILLED EVERY YEAR IN THE AFGHAN WAR.

JUAN MARTINEZ -- THE PRESS DELEGATE FOR THE I-C-R-C IN KABUL -- TOLD V-O-A THE ORGANIZATION IS 20-MILLION DOLLARS SHORT OF ITS 54-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET TARGET FOR AFGHANISTAN.

// MARTINEZ ACT //

THE PERCEPTION OF THE PROBLEM HERE FROM EUROPE OR FROM THE UNITED STATES -- THEY THINK THESE MUSLIMS FIGHT BETWEEN THEMSELVES -- WE ARE TIRED OF THIS. THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED MORE FUNDS TO DO THE JOB WE HAVE TO DO.

// END ACT //

MR. MARTINEZ SAYS THE I-C-R-C HAS BEGUN VISITING PRISONS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN AFTER BEING BANNED FROM SUCH VISITS NEAR THE OPPOSITION STRONG HOLD OF MAZAR-I-SHARIF.

THE TALEBAN HAVE CHARGED THAT PRISONERS OF WAR IN OPPOSITION-HELD AREAS ARE DYING FROM DISEASE AND STARVATION.

MR. MARTINEZ WILL NOT COMMENT ON CONDITIONS IN THE PRISONS, BUT SAYS THE I-C-R-C HAS BEGUN PROVIDING MEDICAL TREATMENT TO TALEBAN P-O-W'S IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN.

HE ALSO SAYS THE ORGANIZATION IS READY TO HELP REMOVE AND RETURN THE BODIES OF PEOPLE FOUND IN MASS GRAVES NEAR THE NORTHERN CITY OF SHIBARGHAN.

MR. MARTINEZ SAYS THE I-C-R-C HAS NOT FULLY INVESTIGATED REPORTS OF RECENT MASSACRES IN FARYAB PROVINCE NEAR THE IRANIAN BORDER.

// MARTINEZ ACT //

THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS THAT I-C-R-C IS DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. BUT I CAN NOT GIVE YOU ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT VERIFIED ALL THESE ALLEGATIONS, SO WE DO NOT HAVE ANY POSITION ON THIS. THE ONLY THING IS THAT WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THIS INFORMATION.

// END ACT //

MR. MARTINEZ SAYS THE I-C-R-C WILL ASK DONOR COUNTRIES FOR MORE MONEY TO FUND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN AFGHANISTAN.

HE INDICATED IF THE WAR CONTINUES TO DRAG ON, WESTERN COUNTRIES MAY SOON BE LESS WILLING TO PROVIDE AID FOR THE AFGHAN PEOPLE. (SIGNED)