The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has opened its newest office in Pul-i-Khumri, the capital of the country’s northern Baghlan province, bringing the total number of its field offices to 18.
“Our new office will play a crucial role in the coordination of development efforts, monitoring of human rights issues, strengthening of good governance and the rule of law, assisting local institutions in combating corruption and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid,” a spokesperson for the UN Mission told reporters in Kabul today.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Kai Eide, presided at the opening of the new office, which took place this weekend.
In addition to its headquarters in Kabul, UNAMA also has offices in Mazar-i-Sharif, Kunduz, Herat, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Bamiyan, Gardez, Ghor, Kunar, Khost, Nimroz, Badghis, Maimana, Faizabad, Daikundi, Zabul and Uruzgan.
The General Assembly today welcomed the ongoing extension of the world body’s presence into additional provinces in Afghanistan, saying it “ensures that the United Nations fulfils its essential coordinating role.”
In a wide-ranging and unanimously adopted resolution on the situation in Afghanistan, the 192-member body encouraged UNAMA to consolidate its presence and to continue its expansion throughout the country, particularly in the south, “security conditions permitting.”
Last month Mr. Eide reported to the Security Council that the number of violent attacks in Afghanistan in the last few months has been the highest since 2002 as the insurgency spreads beyond the south and east of the country.
(UN; 10 november 2008)
Zie ook
Verenigde Naties breiden aanwezigheid Afghanistan uit met kantoor in Baghlan
Posts tonen met het label verenigde naties. Alle posts tonen
Posts tonen met het label verenigde naties. Alle posts tonen
dinsdag 11 november 2008
woensdag 5 november 2008
Afghanistan: UN relief chief urges immediate release of kidnapped aid worker
The top United Nations relief official has called for the immediate and unconditional release of an aid worker kidnapped today in Kabul and deplored the killing of an Afghan citizen shot while trying to prevent the incident.
Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes strongly condemned the abduction of the aid worker, who serves as a consultant for Amitié Franco-Afghane (AFRANE), a non-governmental organization (NGO) active in education and development in Afghanistan.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks against civilians in the strife-torn nation. Just two weeks ago Gayle Williams, who worked for the Christian NGO known as SERVE Afghanistan as a volunteer on projects assisting the disabled, was shot dead in Kabul on her way to work.
Mr. Holmes, who is also Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, voiced his deep concern about the worsening trend of killings and abductions of both civilians and aid workers in Afghanistan.
In a statement issued in New York, he “reminds the Government of Afghanistan and all parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect civilians, including all aid workers.”
(VN: New York, 3 november 2008)
Zie ook
VN eist onmiddellijke vrijlating van ontvoerde hulpverlener uit Frankrijk in Afghanistan
Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes strongly condemned the abduction of the aid worker, who serves as a consultant for Amitié Franco-Afghane (AFRANE), a non-governmental organization (NGO) active in education and development in Afghanistan.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks against civilians in the strife-torn nation. Just two weeks ago Gayle Williams, who worked for the Christian NGO known as SERVE Afghanistan as a volunteer on projects assisting the disabled, was shot dead in Kabul on her way to work.
Mr. Holmes, who is also Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, voiced his deep concern about the worsening trend of killings and abductions of both civilians and aid workers in Afghanistan.
In a statement issued in New York, he “reminds the Government of Afghanistan and all parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect civilians, including all aid workers.”
(VN: New York, 3 november 2008)
Zie ook
VN eist onmiddellijke vrijlating van ontvoerde hulpverlener uit Frankrijk in Afghanistan
dinsdag 14 oktober 2008
Top UN envoy warns deadly Afghan attacks on increase as situation worsens
The number of violent attacks in Afghanistan in the last few months has been the highest since 2002 as the insurgency spreads beyond the south and east of the country, the top United Nations envoy told the Security Council today.
As the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, the insurgency has now extended to provinces around Kabul, attacks have become more deadly and there have been more attacks against humanitarian targets, Kai Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, informed the Council.
He warned that although a decrease in attacks after Ramadan had allowed a polio vaccination campaign to take place, the current spike indicated that there would be no recurrence of the usual winter lull in fighting this year.
Noting that not all is “doom and gloom” Mr. Eide told the press: “When President [Hamid] Karzai carries out a cabinet reshuffle which demonstrates a desire to attack key issues that have so far not been handled appropriately, that makes me optimistic.”
Mr. Eide, who is also the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA, stressed that there were other positive developments which gave him cause for cautious optimism, such as a more constructive relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan on the basis of a shared threat from insurgents.
He said that further reasons for hope were the political changes in Afghanistan, including the strengthening of the Ministry of the Interior and the police sector, changes in the Ministry of Agriculture that could help avoid food shortages and stimulate economic growth, as well as reductions in illicit drug production.
If these more positive trends could be built on, the current negative atmosphere could be replaced by one of greater confidence, which was important both for the Afghan population and donors, he told the Council meeting.
(Bron: VN, 14 oktober 2008)
Zie ook
Aanvallen in Afghanistan op zijn hevigst volgens Eide van de UNAMA
As the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, the insurgency has now extended to provinces around Kabul, attacks have become more deadly and there have been more attacks against humanitarian targets, Kai Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, informed the Council.
He warned that although a decrease in attacks after Ramadan had allowed a polio vaccination campaign to take place, the current spike indicated that there would be no recurrence of the usual winter lull in fighting this year.
Noting that not all is “doom and gloom” Mr. Eide told the press: “When President [Hamid] Karzai carries out a cabinet reshuffle which demonstrates a desire to attack key issues that have so far not been handled appropriately, that makes me optimistic.”
Mr. Eide, who is also the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA, stressed that there were other positive developments which gave him cause for cautious optimism, such as a more constructive relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan on the basis of a shared threat from insurgents.
He said that further reasons for hope were the political changes in Afghanistan, including the strengthening of the Ministry of the Interior and the police sector, changes in the Ministry of Agriculture that could help avoid food shortages and stimulate economic growth, as well as reductions in illicit drug production.
If these more positive trends could be built on, the current negative atmosphere could be replaced by one of greater confidence, which was important both for the Afghan population and donors, he told the Council meeting.
(Bron: VN, 14 oktober 2008)
Zie ook
Aanvallen in Afghanistan op zijn hevigst volgens Eide van de UNAMA
Abonneren op:
Posts (Atom)