HOLY FATHER'S APPEAL FOR AFGHANISTAN

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2001 (VIS) - At the conclusion of this morning's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall, John Paul II made the following appeal:

"A grave humanitarian emergency is occurring in Afghanistan. Alarming news is arriving of countless victims among the evacuees due to drought and civil war. Thousands of people are in danger of dying of hunger and cold, above all children, the sick, and the elderly.

"I express my great appreciation for the efforts of the humanitarian organizations that are attempting to bring urgent assistance to the Afghan people. While I ask the international community to not forget this tragic situation, I hope that the sides in conflict, in a war which has been too long and bloody, will arrange an immediate ceasefire so that assistance can reach the areas most at risk in time."

AG;APPEAL AFGHANISTAN;...;...;VIS;20010228;Word: 150;