Led by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), 13 U.S. senators joined in a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell urging the U.S. to immediately send $30 million in emergency relief funds to aid the hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees, primarily women and children, who have fled their homes to escape the brutal rule of the Taliban regime, a total lack of food, and the worst drought to hit Afghanistan in 30 years. As many as 800,000 internal refugees seek relief within Afghanistan; hundreds of thousands have crossed the border to neighboring Pakistan in search of relief, only to find death and starvation in refugee camps.
In addition to Sen. Feinstein, Senators Joseph Biden (D- DE), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Russell Feingold (D-WI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-LA), Harry Reid (D-NV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Paul Wellstone (D-WI) also signed the letter to Sec. Powell.
The Feminist Majority Foundation has led the effort to increase funding to assist Afghan women and girls.
Take Action Today! Demand Immediate Emergency Assistance for Afghan Refugees.
