Hyun Chul-ho, the spokesman for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the only Korean in its Afghan office, said that even though the war against terrorism is about to end and the country is reviving, this winter season will be the crucial point of survival for many Afghan children, who have suffered for the last decade from civil war. Hyun worked in Islamabad, Pakistan since May, as the UNICEF Afghan chapter moved to the neighboring country in the mid 90's.

Stressing the importance of education in national reform, the children's organization official said that human rights protection and psychological treatment for the child victims are necessary to cure those who have been traumatized by the prolonged civil war and recent anti-terrorism strikes, in addition to usual UNICEF activities such as medical aid and drinking water supply.

Hyun was in New York on September 11, when the airplane terror attacks took place in the city, sfter being dispatched to headquarters for The UN Special Session on Children, which was postponed by the tragic event. Returning to Islamabad on September 24, the UNICEF spokesman became the media representative in refugee relief activities.

Hyun moved all over the world while growing up, as his father was a diplomat, and he received his master's degree in the US. Upon completing his military service duty, Hyun worked as an anchor at Arirang TV, the Korean English language broadcasting company before volunteering for the UNICEF mission in Pakistan to gain international experience.

(Kwon Sang-eun, sekwon@chosun.com )