The United Nations Security Council today unanimously extended the mission of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for another year and called for it to be strengthened in the face of increased violence and terrorism from the Taliban, Al-Qaida and drug smugglers.
ISAF, which now has 47,600 personnel on the ground, was established after United States-led forces ousted the Taliban regime in late 2001 to help the then-interim authorities maintain security across the impoverished nation.
In today's resolution the 15-member body recognized "the need to further strengthen ISAF to meet all its operational requirements, and in this regard calls upon Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources."
It expressed serious concern with the high number of civilian casualties resulting from the fighting. While recognizing ISAF's efforts to minimize this risk, it called on the Force "to take additional robust efforts" by continuously reviewing tactics and procedures and conducting after-action reviews in cooperation with the Afghan Government.
The Council called on all Afghan parties and groups to engage in peaceful political dialogue and in socio-economic development and to avoid resorting to violence including through the use of illegal armed groups.
Stressing the importance of increasing the functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector, it urged ISAF and other partners to continue training Afghan national security forces towards the accelerated goal of setting up self-sufficient and ethnically balanced national forces to provide security and the rule of law.
The 12-month extension begins on 13 October.
(UN: September 22, 2008)
Zie ook
VN-Veiligheidsraad verlengt mandaat ISAF-missie in Afghanistan
Posts tonen met het label civilian casualties. Alle posts tonen
Posts tonen met het label civilian casualties. Alle posts tonen
dinsdag 23 september 2008
dinsdag 16 september 2008
UN rights chief urges protection amid sharp rise in Afghan civilian deaths
The top United Nations human rights official has called for ensuring the protection of Afghan civilians, as new figures show an almost 40 per cent increase in conflict-related deaths in the first eight months of 2008 compared to the same period last year.
The human rights unit of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) recorded a total of 1,445 civilian casualties in the first eight months of this year, an increase of 39 per cent compared to the same period in 2007, when there were 1,040 deaths.
"I call on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, and to ensure every effort is made to avoid the killing of civilians," said High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay.
"The Taliban and other insurgent groups must desist from practices that result in huge and indiscriminate loss of life. Efforts must also be made to hold such groups to account. There is a long history of impunity in Afghanistan - and that needs to change," she added.
While the number of killings by the Taliban and other anti-government forces almost doubled by comparison with the first eight months of 2007, the numbers killed by government and international military forces also increasing substantially, according to Ms. Pillay's office.
"There is an urgent need for better coordination between Afghan and international military forces to enhance the protection of civilians and the safety and welfare of war-affected communities," said Ms. Pillay.
"It is also imperative that there is greater transparency in accountability procedures for international forces involved in incidents that cause civilian casualties," she said, adding that there should also be a rapid and independent assessment of damages and a fair and consistent system of condolence payments to survivors and relatives of victims.
Last month was among the most deadly, with 330 civilians killed, including up to 92 deaths reported during an operation involving Afghan and international military forces in Shindand, as well as the killing of four non-governmental (NGO) workers by the Taliban on 13 August, in Logar province.
The High Commissioner noted that this is the highest number of civilian deaths to occur in a single month since the end of major hostilities and the ousting of the Taliban regime at the end of 2001.
Ms. Pillay also voiced concern at the continued attacks on aid workers. In the latest incident, two doctors working with the UN World Health Organization (WHO) were killed on Sunday, along with their UNAMA driver, by a suicide bomber in the border town of Spin Boldak, bringing the total number of aid workers killed so far in 2008 to over 30.
"Targeted attacks on aid workers are not only atrocious in themselves, they also have far-reaching negative consequences on the poorest and most vulnerable segments of the population," stressed Ms. Pillay.
"In addition to the civilian deaths and injuries caused directly by the conflict, Afghans are continuing to face displacement, destruction of property and other assets, as well as disruption to healthcare, education, housing and other essential services," she noted.
(Source: UN)
The human rights unit of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) recorded a total of 1,445 civilian casualties in the first eight months of this year, an increase of 39 per cent compared to the same period in 2007, when there were 1,040 deaths.
"I call on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, and to ensure every effort is made to avoid the killing of civilians," said High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay.
"The Taliban and other insurgent groups must desist from practices that result in huge and indiscriminate loss of life. Efforts must also be made to hold such groups to account. There is a long history of impunity in Afghanistan - and that needs to change," she added.
While the number of killings by the Taliban and other anti-government forces almost doubled by comparison with the first eight months of 2007, the numbers killed by government and international military forces also increasing substantially, according to Ms. Pillay's office.
"There is an urgent need for better coordination between Afghan and international military forces to enhance the protection of civilians and the safety and welfare of war-affected communities," said Ms. Pillay.
"It is also imperative that there is greater transparency in accountability procedures for international forces involved in incidents that cause civilian casualties," she said, adding that there should also be a rapid and independent assessment of damages and a fair and consistent system of condolence payments to survivors and relatives of victims.
Last month was among the most deadly, with 330 civilians killed, including up to 92 deaths reported during an operation involving Afghan and international military forces in Shindand, as well as the killing of four non-governmental (NGO) workers by the Taliban on 13 August, in Logar province.
The High Commissioner noted that this is the highest number of civilian deaths to occur in a single month since the end of major hostilities and the ousting of the Taliban regime at the end of 2001.
Ms. Pillay also voiced concern at the continued attacks on aid workers. In the latest incident, two doctors working with the UN World Health Organization (WHO) were killed on Sunday, along with their UNAMA driver, by a suicide bomber in the border town of Spin Boldak, bringing the total number of aid workers killed so far in 2008 to over 30.
"Targeted attacks on aid workers are not only atrocious in themselves, they also have far-reaching negative consequences on the poorest and most vulnerable segments of the population," stressed Ms. Pillay.
"In addition to the civilian deaths and injuries caused directly by the conflict, Afghans are continuing to face displacement, destruction of property and other assets, as well as disruption to healthcare, education, housing and other essential services," she noted.
(Source: UN)
maandag 1 september 2008
UN provides emergency aid to Afghans affected by recent military operations in Herat
A United Nations team has delivered emergency relief assistance to some 900 people in the country's western Herat province who were affected the recent military operations which the world body said resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including many children.
Last week the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that an investigation by its human rights team found that some 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children, during operations carried out by international and Afghan military forces on 21 August in Herat's Shindand district.
This weekend a UN emergency relief team, accompanied by local government officials, delivered three truckloads of essential food, cooking utensils, shelter materials and medicines to some 150 families in the area.
"At this point in time the primary concern of all of us has to be the welfare of the people of Shindand district," said Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.
"I have asked all UN agencies working in Afghanistan to step up support to the local authorities as they work to help the survivors. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and stand ready to assist with all ongoing efforts to support those who need our help the most," he stated.
The UN team also met with village elders to listen to their needs and concerns as recovery efforts continue.
Mr. Eide has called on the international and Afghan military forces to "thoroughly review" the conduct of the operation to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
Last week the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that an investigation by its human rights team found that some 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children, during operations carried out by international and Afghan military forces on 21 August in Herat's Shindand district.
This weekend a UN emergency relief team, accompanied by local government officials, delivered three truckloads of essential food, cooking utensils, shelter materials and medicines to some 150 families in the area.
"At this point in time the primary concern of all of us has to be the welfare of the people of Shindand district," said Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.
"I have asked all UN agencies working in Afghanistan to step up support to the local authorities as they work to help the survivors. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and stand ready to assist with all ongoing efforts to support those who need our help the most," he stated.
The UN team also met with village elders to listen to their needs and concerns as recovery efforts continue.
Mr. Eide has called on the international and Afghan military forces to "thoroughly review" the conduct of the operation to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
dinsdag 26 augustus 2008
UN says “At least 90 civilians killed in recent military operations”
An investigation by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has found that some 90 civilians, including 60 children, were among those killed during military operations in the strife-torn nation's western Herat province last week.
A team of human rights officers from UNAMA went to Herat's Shindand district to investigate reports that large numbers of civilian casualties were sustained during operations conducted by foreign and Afghan military personnel around midnight on 21 August.
They found "convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses, and others," that some 90 civilians were killed - including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men - and another 15 villagers wounded.
"This is a matter of grave concern to the United Nations. I have repeatedly made clear that the safety and welfare of civilians must be considered above all else during the planning and conduct of all military operations," Kai Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, said in a statement issued Wednesday in Kabul.
According to the people interviewed by UNAMA, the military operations lasted several hours during which air strikes were called in. "The destruction from aerial bombardment was clearly evident with some 7-8 houses having been totally destroyed and serious damage to many others. Local residents were able to confirm the number of casualties, including names, age and gender of the victims," the mission said.
Mr. Eide called on the international and Afghan military forces to "thoroughly review" the conduct of the operation to ensure that it does not happen again.
"The impact of such operations undermines the trust and confidence of the Afghan people in efforts to build a just, peaceful, and law-abiding State," he stated, reminding all parties that the protection of civilians must be their primary concern.
They must respect their duties under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect the people we are here to serve," he added.
(Bron: UN)
A team of human rights officers from UNAMA went to Herat's Shindand district to investigate reports that large numbers of civilian casualties were sustained during operations conducted by foreign and Afghan military personnel around midnight on 21 August.
They found "convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses, and others," that some 90 civilians were killed - including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men - and another 15 villagers wounded.
"This is a matter of grave concern to the United Nations. I have repeatedly made clear that the safety and welfare of civilians must be considered above all else during the planning and conduct of all military operations," Kai Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, said in a statement issued Wednesday in Kabul.
According to the people interviewed by UNAMA, the military operations lasted several hours during which air strikes were called in. "The destruction from aerial bombardment was clearly evident with some 7-8 houses having been totally destroyed and serious damage to many others. Local residents were able to confirm the number of casualties, including names, age and gender of the victims," the mission said.
Mr. Eide called on the international and Afghan military forces to "thoroughly review" the conduct of the operation to ensure that it does not happen again.
"The impact of such operations undermines the trust and confidence of the Afghan people in efforts to build a just, peaceful, and law-abiding State," he stated, reminding all parties that the protection of civilians must be their primary concern.
They must respect their duties under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect the people we are here to serve," he added.
(Bron: UN)
zondag 24 augustus 2008
UN calls for probe into reports of civilian casualties in military operation in Shindand
The top United Nations official in Afghanistan Saturday called for a thorough investigation of reports that large numbers of civilians were killed during an international military operation in the far west of the country.
Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, issued a statement in which he said he had learned late last night that civilians may have been killed during the operations, carried out in Shindand district of Herat province.
He stressed the importance of a thorough investigation to establish the facts "before we jump to any conclusions. The United Nations has always made clear that civilian casualties are unacceptable. They undermine the trust and confidence of the Afghan people."
Mr. Eide said he had instructed the Herat office of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to help provincial authorities to establish and verify the facts.
"Any civilian casualty is one civilian casualty too many," he said. "And every effort that can be made must be made to ensure the safety and welfare of the civilian population where military operations are conducted."
Meanwhile, the Special Representative today told a conference for southern Afghan governors that partnerships with provincial and district authorities are central to improving the effectiveness of aid across the south, which remains the most unstable and violence-wracked region of the country.
Speaking in Kandahar, Mr. Eide noted that it was in the southern districts and provinces "that the lack of effectiveness is most acutely felt. It is here that the lack of coordination has the greatest impact."
He also urged the governors to combat corruption more vigorously, or risk undermining the confidence of Afghans in their State institutions and jeopardizing local security even further.
Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, issued a statement in which he said he had learned late last night that civilians may have been killed during the operations, carried out in Shindand district of Herat province.
He stressed the importance of a thorough investigation to establish the facts "before we jump to any conclusions. The United Nations has always made clear that civilian casualties are unacceptable. They undermine the trust and confidence of the Afghan people."
Mr. Eide said he had instructed the Herat office of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to help provincial authorities to establish and verify the facts.
"Any civilian casualty is one civilian casualty too many," he said. "And every effort that can be made must be made to ensure the safety and welfare of the civilian population where military operations are conducted."
Meanwhile, the Special Representative today told a conference for southern Afghan governors that partnerships with provincial and district authorities are central to improving the effectiveness of aid across the south, which remains the most unstable and violence-wracked region of the country.
Speaking in Kandahar, Mr. Eide noted that it was in the southern districts and provinces "that the lack of effectiveness is most acutely felt. It is here that the lack of coordination has the greatest impact."
He also urged the governors to combat corruption more vigorously, or risk undermining the confidence of Afghans in their State institutions and jeopardizing local security even further.
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