The Gulf: 5 million and counting.

• Position: Refugees in aftermath of Persian Gulf War

It has been termed the "fastest growing refugee situation in modem history", and it does not take a historian to see that the present crisis in the Guff region has produced an unprecedented human exodus.

In terms of size, scope and speed of migration, as well as widespread death and suffering, the Gulf refugee crisis is unique. It has presented an enormous challenge to the world community to provide emergency money and supplies, as well as manpower, resources and, particularly, international commitment and cooperation to deliver relief across mountains, deserts and landmined terrains.

To date, the key role played by the UN and its relief agencies, working in concert with scores of Governments and private voluntary agencies, has saved tens of thousands of lives. Yet, even with such international cooperation, the present Gulf situation remains frighteningly grim.

"In human, economic and social terms, the devastation resulting from the war and the displacement of large numbers of people in the civil conflict which followed is incalculable", said Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, the Secretary General's Executive Delegate to coordinate the UN Inter-Agency Humanitarian Programme for Iraq, Kuwait and Iraq's border areas, assessing the refugee crisis in mid-May.

Moreover, a grave shortage of funds exists for the thrice-updated UN Regional Humanitarian Plan of Action relating to the Crisis between Iraq and Kuwait, budgeted in mid-June 1991 at $448.9 million for four months of operations.

At that time, only a third of that amount had been pledged by donor nations, in spite of dire predictions of famine, disease and new migration. While new pledges of $80 million were made by donor nations on 12 June, the funding shortfall was still considered to be "alarming".

The overall picture

Since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, some 5 million persons from 30 countries have been temporarily or permanently displaced. Hundreds of thousands more remain internally displaced inside Iraq and Kawait, their homes and cities destroyed and devastated during the Gulf war and its aftermath.

Following the 18 April Memorandum of Understanding between Iraq and the UN, a mass voluntary repatriation effort has begun, involving some 1.5 million refugees, mainly Iraqi Kurds, now living in temporary camps along the border with Turkey and in Iran. During that time, thousands of Kurds, mostly women and children, were reported to have died of starvation and exposure. In some areas, 800 fell victim daily to malnutrition and disease.

International relief officials in mid-June warned that health conditions there remained serious, making voluntary repatriation more difficult. Several epidemics, including cholera and measles, have broken out in Iraq and Kuwait due to the damage to the basic health and sanitation infrastructure.

Women and children, often comprising 80 per cent of some refugee populations, are especially vulnerable. Without massive immunization programmes, they may die...