Welcome to the Live Chat with Al Dwyer in Pakistan

Al Dwyer, far left, organizes emergency relief distributions during a 1999 crisis in East Timor.

Al Dwyer is is World Vision’s Senior Relief Advisor for the Asia-Pacific Region. Dwyer is currently in Pakistan with World Vision, responding to the Central Asia refugee crisis. The Live Chat took place on Thursday morning, October 25, 2001. The following RealMedia recording of the audio interview precedes the rough realtime transcript of interview itself. Click for your connection speed. (Click here if you need RealMedia Player -- it's free!)

Laura: Thank you for joining us, Al! We appreciate you being here.

Can you tell us how many refugees are currently in need?

Al: The most recent estimates are that 150,000 people have recently come across the border into Pakistan. More than 7.5 million may be vulnerable iwthin Pakistan -- they need either food or non-food support.

Laura: What are the refugees' most critical needs?

Al: Right now there are 2 considerations ... the first is the beginning of winter around Nov 15. A lot of families need blankets, shelters, clothing, cooking utensils. Many have traveled great distances. We need to make sure they have enough wheat, oil, lentil. Food and nonfoods support is what we are focusing on at this point.

People are tired, but there is still optimism. Many are looking forward to the day when they can go back home and resume their lives.

Laura: Where are most of the refugees located?

Al: In 2 areas, the northwest province of Peshawar; and in the far west, Baluchistan. There are reports that all along the border people are fleeing.

Laura: We're aware that there are already camps in Pakistan for Afghan refugees which have been there for many years. What have NGOs such as WV and governments been doing to resolve their situation?

Al: Refugees who have come over since Sept 11, what they are calling the new caseload, have a variety of needs. World Vision is bringing in a lot of winter items, blankets, cooking utensils, trying to position food as well.

We're also concerned with a lot of the people within Afghanistan.

Laura: Are there tensions between the long-term residents of these camps and new arrivals?

Al: I don't believe so. They seem to be blending together well. A lot of the new refugees are seeking out relatives who left the country years earlier.

Laura: Are they seeking out the old timers in the camps for advice and guidance?

Al: A lot of the older refugees have been there for 10 to 15 years, have established networks, and the new people are falling back on those. It's hard to identify, in many situations, who is new and who is old.

Laura: We're hearing reports that some of the refugees are being turned back at the border, and that some countries intend to send them back into Afghanistan. Can you confirm?

Al: As of today the border with Pakistan is officially closed to refugees. But unofficially, refugees are still coming in at several different points.

Laura: We have a nurse online, her name is Nicole, and she is writing from Canada. She says, "Good morning, I am a nurse and am interested in helping with relief work. Do you need nurses?"

Al: Hello Nicole! Sure, World Vision is heavily involved with health issues ... primarily supplemental feeding with young children, immunization campaigns, primary health care, it runs the gamut. I would encourage her to get in touch with one of our offices for more information.

Laura: What are conditions like in the refugee camps?

Al: Conditions are not good, as bad as I've seen in Africa and elsewhere. There is a stark difference between newer and older camps, which are more developed. There are water and health concerns.

Laura: Have any of the refugees spoken to you personally?

Al: Yes. They are lovely people, this is a beautiful country. I've found them to be very warm.

Laura: What images remain in your head as you lay down to go to sleep each night?

Al: One that left an impression on me yesterday, in Peshawar we were coming out of a relief camp and I saw a woman 24 or 25 years old, with a year old daughter on her lamp. I've seen that 100 times back home in the US, a mother and a child smiling and playing in her lap, their obvious love ... I can only help but wonder, do these people have enough food to eat? Is this child warm? As parents we think about these things.

Laura: Is Afghanistan allowing relief agencies to work within its borders?

Al: The official line from the Taliban is that they are not obstructing, but the reality is that international agencies, including the UN, and NGOs such as World Vision, cannot enter for security and a variety of reasons, so we are here in Pakistan waiting for the security situation to improve.

Laura: How do we know that supplies will get to the people most in need?

Al: As far as logistics go, we do rely a lot on local networks. Animals are used to pack in food, etc. We have to be creative, no doubt, and take things on a case by case basis and make adjustments as necessary.

Laura: Here in the US it is being reported that the Taliban may be likely to poison food dropped to help refugees. How can we be sure

Al: The idea that anyone anywhere would poison humanitarian food is really unconscionable. We've never even heard of such a thing. We started receiving those reports yesterday, we are very concerned. We are doing everything we can to safeguard the food we deliver so that it can't be tainted.

Laura: You directed World Vision's relief efforts during war in Angola, and elsewhere. How does this situation compare to the crises you've been a part of in the past?

Al: That's an interesting question. I think the biggest difference is that there is a lot of international tension, but the tension related to the United States back home makes it different. Being an American, after what happened Sept. 11, there's a lot that goes through your mind. Our mission here is to try and separate our personal feelings from the job.

Laura: How long does World Vision plan to be on the ground helping people in Afghanistan?

Al: Food assistance is key right now. Once the situation stabilizes, hopefully after a few months, we will get involved in more infrastructure things. The drought has been severe, agriculture needs to be encouraged, that will be the direction we want to head in.

Laura: What are your hopes for the people of Afghanistan?

Al: We hope that peace will come to the land, that children will be involved in a peaceful environment. That life will return to normal and that all people will have equal opportunity.

I do believe if we can improve conditions on the ground for people in Afghanistan, they will stand a better chance of improving their lives and bettering the entire situation.

Laura: How can we here in the United States help?

Al: I think the people back home can do several things to help. Support the US government in its effort to deliver food and help to the refugees. Support the NGOs. There are lots of things that we can do to help.

Laura: Are there any needs the relief workers have that you can tell us about?

Al: They need more internet connections, more email! That seems to be a problem here. But everybody here has a lot of years of experience and is used to it.

Laura: Is there anything else you would like to tell our web visitors?

Al: I would like to thank everyone for tuning in and showing interest in what's going on here. Thank you for all the support. Continue to fall along with us and be engaged. As the situation evolves and things change, we'll keep trying to tell you about it.

Laura: Well, Al, we really appreciate the time you've been able to spend with us today. I know it's late evening there and you're probably tired and ready to go to bed! God bless you, and our prayers are with you in what you are doing.

Al: Thanks, Laura, it's been great. Good night!