Speech #980155119

has. with the assistance of the Government of Pakistan. undertaken an international relief program for the refugees in Pakistan which includes basic housing and health and educational services. Despite the heavy burden the refugee influx has placed on Pakistan. the refugees have been welcomed and good rapport continues between them and their hosts. Pakistani assistance to the refugees includes some cash allowances to individuals and payment of relief administration costs. Contributions from several other countries and International voluntary agencies have greatly assisted this program. The Afghan refugees in Iran have not been handled in any systematic way and there have been no international relief efforts there. Most of the Afghan refugees are Pathan and. therefore. feel comfortable in the Pathandominated Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP). Due to the large concentration of refugees in the Northwest Frontier Province. however. Pakistani authorities began In 1982 to move refugees into new camps in less populated parts of the adjacent nonPathan Punjab Province. Efforts to move the refugees increase the possibility of conflicts between the refugees and their hosts. Nonetheless. more than 40.000 Afghans were relocated from the NWFP in order to relieve population pressures and provide better living conditions. Large numbers. subsequently left the Punjab to return to PakistanAfghanistan border areas citing adverse climatic conditions in the south and a desire to remain close to helr homeland. Pakistani authorities continue seeking ways in which to manage the massive refugee population to the advantage of all concerned. President Zia has reaffirmed his commitment to a political solution including repatriation. and the Government of Pakistan adheres to a ruling by the Organization of the Islamic Conference that no member country should deal with the Karmal regime. Working through the UNHCR. the World Food Program. and a variety of voluntary agencies. the U.S. Government continues to share in the international assistance program. Since 1980. the United States has contributed more than $300 million to Afghan refugee relief. During fiscal year 1983. the United States contributed $80 million to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan. including $49 million through the WFP. The U.S. contribution represents some 35% of the total UNHCR budget and about 50% of the international food contribution.