PRESS BRIEFING BY THE U.N. OFFICES FOR PAKISTAN AND
AFGHANISTAN ( 08 December 2001)

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s UN briefings in Kabul (excluding questions and answers session).

** Yusuf Hassan, UN spokesperson

Let me start with some news on flights. The key point has to do with anyone who has originally booked on flights on 16, 17, 18 December. As you know, on those days - in and out of Kabul – the flights have been cancelled. The more hopeful news is that those of you who were booked on those are being given priority on flights leaving 14th and 19th. Please be advised: you
must go by UN flight operations and speak directly with Bengt Messing, to organise this.

Some news on the WFP food distribution, done today in 16 areas of the city. Much of the close to 15-ghundred metric tonnes of wheat that was to be distributed – was indeed handed out to the thousands of families eager to get it. There were about 1,300 metric tonnes of wheat handed out today. Overall, most of the food got to those who were destined to receive it.

However, in certain areas, distribution had to be suspended on and off, so that crowds that gathered could either be dispersed, or new arrangements made, to make the distribution go smoothly as possible.

This was the first day of an 8-day effort, to distribute food throughout much of Kabul. By 14 December, we expect close to 1.3 million people will have much needed food, to get them through the next month.