Almost half of Afghanistan's population consists of children under eighteen. The combination of endemic poverty, on-going drought, years of civil unrest and the recent military action now threatens a major crisis for the children of Afghanistan. Before October 2001, Afghanistan was already one of the worst places in the world to be a child. UNICEF has now warned that 100,000 Afghan children could die this winter unless food reaches them in sufficient quantities before winter sets in.

This crisis, compounded by the onset of winter, poses severe threats to child survival, protection and development. Malnutrition, acute respiratory infections and vaccine-preventable diseases will claim many more children lives in the coming months. As families flee their homes, children's access to education and basic health services becomes even more limited than before the current crisis. In these mass population movements children run the risk of being separated from their families or of losing family members who are recruited to fight. Landmines and cluster bombs pose serious risks of death or disability to children.

It is a dangerous illusion to think that political, military and humanitarian objectives can be easily aligned in the current situation.

It is the role of the UN to manage the interface between all aspects of complex interventions and ensure that space is negotiated for humanitarian organizations to operate and meet the current needs of the people of Afghanistan. The UN must be fully resourced and empowered to fulfill its complex role in an impartial manner.
Afghanistan was the poorest country in Asia. The war has had a severe impact on the economy, disrupting infrastructure throughout the country, particularly in the interior. Many skilled and highly educated people have left, leaving the country with staffing problems in many sectors such as health and education. Although the primary occupation is agriculture, only an estimated 10 per cent of land is currently cultivated, as a large portion of the country's arable land has been damaged by war and neglect.

According to the World Food Program (WFP), an estimated five to six million people - almost a quarter of the population -- were dependent on food aid.

Afghanistan has one of the worst child health care records in the world. Diarrhea, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and vaccine-preventable diseases account for approximately 60% of child deaths in Afghanistan. Of deep concern are the following statistics:

• A quarter of the country's children die before they reach their fifth birthday. This is the 4th highest child mortality rate in the world.
• Almost half of children under five are underweight, with global acute malnutrition in rural areas typically at 5 per cent.
• Poor facilities and a lack of properly trained staff in hospitals contribute to a high number of women dying during or after childbirth.
• The overall life expectancy - 46 years - is one of the lowest in the world.

Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world - less than one-third of the population over 15 can read or write. It is estimated that only 39% of boys and 3% of girls had access to education.

Afghanistan is the second most heavily mined country in the world, with an estimated 10 million live mines throughout the country. One third of Afghanistan's 100,000 mine victims have been children - an average of four children are injured every day across the country. Children are particularly vulnerable to becoming land mine casualties as they fetch water; collect firewood, herd animals or even walk to school. The poorest Afghans are the most affected as it is the desperate and destitute who risk entering minefields to seek food and fuel.

According to the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, warring parties in Afghanistan have used children as soldiers. Forced and compulsory recruitment continues to be reported, despite international commitments to the contrary. Young recruits are drawn from within Afghanistan, the Afghan refugee diasporas and religious schools in Pakistan. However, many young and adolescent boys join up voluntarily because it is in accordance with their upbringing, or because it is a way of surviving.

Although detailed statistical evidence is difficult to assemble, we know that since September 11th there has been further displacement, flight and deterioration in law and order, with the inevitable negative consequences for children
Up to one million children and adults in Afghanistan were already internally displaced from their homes before the most recent crisis. With the start of the bombing campaign most of the cities were deserted. Between 50 and 70% of the population of cities like Herat, Kabul, Jalalabad or Kandahar have reportedly fled to surrounding areas to avoid the ongoing bombing.

The combination of poor health, extreme susceptibility to acute respiratory infections (ARIs) which will be largely left untreated and increased food insecurity resulting from decreased flows of aid will very likely lead to a substantial increase in children's malnutrition levels and mortality rates.
As population movements increase and as people flee their homes in fear of retaliation and in search of food, there is an increased risk of mine-related deaths and accidents. A quarter of last year's landmines victims were people on the move either because they were fleeing or because of their nomadic lifestyle. With health services cut-off throughout the country, it is more likely that mine victims will not have access to potentially life-saving medical assistance.

In addition to the existing separated children among the 'old caseload' of displaced, current and expected population movements are likely to result. In other comparable emergencies 2 -5 percent of children have been separated from their families. Although there are no firm statistics, a recent UNHCR situation report stated that, many Afghan families arriving in the Peshawar area had become separated during their escape. Some had to leave behind weak or disabled family members who could not manage the long walk to Pakistan. Others were left behind because they could not afford to pay for the journey and entry into Pakistan. Particularly disturbing is the continued lack of attention around child protection and child separation issues.

It is the role of the UN to manage the interface between all aspects of complex interventions and ensure that space is negotiated for impartial humanitarian organizations to operate and meet the current urgent needs of the people of Afghanistan.