Speech #1040084290

Chairman. however wellintentioned the amendment by the gentleman from Indiana may be. the fact of the matter is. it does indeed deny innocent people humanitarian assistance and assistance for democracybuilding purposes. because in effect it repeals a provision in the bill that says very simply. "Azerbaijan shall be eligible to receive funds provided under title II of this act to be used solely for humanitarian assistance and for democracybuilding purposes." The gentleman says that that provision will not apply. that his amendment will apply instead. He interprets it as not denying people humanitarian assistance. But in fact. in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. only those refugees in Azerbaijan who are totally unassisted by the Azerbaijani Government will receive assistance. All of those others will not get assistance. Here are the facts: 10 percent of the refugees in Azerbaijan the people who really need help. the people who are starving. the people who are malnourished. 10 percent of those people are currently living in organized camps and would be eligible for the assistance alleged by the gentleman from Indiana . The rest are either living with host families in public buildings. governmentprovided shelters. hostels provided for the government. or unused railway wagons or crude earth pits. all of which are governmentrelated facilities. The hepatitis cases in Azerbaijan among the IDPs and refugees have increased by 144 percent since January Waterborne diseases among children are up 18 percent. Salmonellosis is up 70 percent in the first 8 months of 1994 compared with all of 1993. The leading cause of infant mortality and their main reason for hospitalization in Azerbaijan is acute respiratory infections. Drugs previously supplied by the former Soviet central system have decreased from 75 percent of the countrys needs to 5 percent. Of the total IDP/refugee population. those most in need. those who have few or no alternative sources of income are estimated to number some 430.000. The families hosting the displaced. pensioners. orphans. handicapped and disabled people bring the total vulnerable population in need of assistance to 450.000 people. Of those. the gentlemans amendment would say all but 10 percent just have to "hit the road.