De UNAMA-missie werd in 2002 na de val van het Taliban-regime in het leven geroepen. Momenteel staat de missie onder leiding van Staffan de Mistura, de Speciale Gezant van de VN voor Afghanistan.
Met dertig agentschappen, fondsen en programma’s verleent de UNAMA hulp in al de 34 provincies van het al ruim 30 jaar door oorlog en burgeroorlog geteisterde Aziatische land.
Het verslag van de VN over de verlenging van het mandaat voor de UNAMA:
Security Council extends UN mission in Afghanistan for another year
(22 March 2011) The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan for one more year so that it can continue to assist the Government as it assumes greater responsibility for ensuring the country’s security and development.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body authorized the mission, known as UNAMA, to continue its activities until 23 March 2012, including in the fields of monitoring human rights, promoting good governance, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance and assisting in the fight against corruption.
In his most recent report to the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated UN support for the so-called “Kabul Process” that spells out a transition to greater Afghan responsibility and ownership, in both security and civilian areas.
“Our approach to the Kabul process and transition is based on three key principles; transition must be Afghan-owned; it must be planned and implemented in a sustainable manner; and it must ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of all Afghans,” the Secretary-General wrote.
UNAMA has been in place since March 2002, when following the fall of the Taliban, the Bonn Agreement established an interim Government and prescribed the drafting of a new constitution and the holding of elections.
Last week Staffan de Mistura, Mr. Ban’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, said that, with its 30 agencies, funds and programmes providing aid in every one of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, the UN stands ready to support the country’s assumption of the lead role in all aspects of governance, development, and efforts to achieve peace.
“The UN attaches great importance to its partnership with the Government of Afghanistan, and its institutions, to manage a successful transition process,” he told a meeting of the Council.
“We believe that our long experience in the country positions us to serve as a partner to the Government and the international community to support transition.”
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VN-veiligheidsraad verlengt UNAMA-hulpmissie Afghanistan met een jaar
Security Council extends mandate of Afghanistan mission until 23 march 2012
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zaterdag 26 maart 2011
Security Council extends mandate of Afghanistan mission until 23 march 2012
De VN-veiligheidsraad heeft afgelopen week het mandaat van de United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) tot 23 maart 2012 verlengd.
SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF AFGHANISTAN MISSION UNTIL 23 MARCH 2012,
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1974 (2011)
Afghanistan’s Representative Says Text Reaffirms International Commitment,
While Underscoring Importance of Transition to Afghan Ownership, Leadership
Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to challenges in Afghanistan and affirming the need to reinforce Afghan ownership of those efforts, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country, known as UNAMA, for one year, until 23 March 2012.
Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1974 (2011), the Council decided that UNAMA, guided by the principle of reinforcing Afghan sovereignty, ownership and leadership, would continue to lead international civilian support to the Afghan Government in accordance with the London and Kabul conference communiqués, with a particular focus on strengthening coordination between international programmes in development and governance assistance, as well as between civilian and military operations.
In particular, it decided UNAMA would promote more coherent support to the Afghan Government, as co-chair of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, in the ongoing development of the New National Priority Programmes, mobilization of resources, coordination of international donors and organizations and direction of United Nations support efforts in counter-narcotics, reconstruction and development activities.
At the same time, it decided that UNAMA would support efforts to increase the proportion of development aid delivered through the Afghan Government and support efforts to increase the transparency and effectiveness of the Government’s use of such resources.
The Council stressed the importance of a strong presence of UNAMA and other United Nations units in the provinces and encouraged efforts to address associated security issues. It reaffirmed UNAMA’s leading role in supporting, at the request of the Government, the realization of commitments made to further improve the electoral process.
Through the text, the Council also stressed the role of UNAMA in supporting the process of peace and reconciliation and encouraged the international community to assist the Government through support to the Peace and Reintegration Trust fund and other means.
It requested that the Secretary-General conduct a comprehensive review of United Nations support in Afghanistan in consultation with all stakeholders by the end of 2011, taking into account the need to strengthen Afghan leadership and ownership and the evolving nature of international support.
Following the adoption of the resolution, Afghanistan’s representative, Zahir Tanin, thanked the Council for the action, saying it reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to his country while also underscoring the importance of the transition to Afghan ownership and leadership. At the same time, it promoted the streamlining of United Nations activities in line with Afghan priorities, he said.
In his latest report, the Secretary-General recommended the mandate extension, saying that the Mission should continue to support the so-called “ Kabul process” that spelled out a transition to greater Afghan responsibility and ownership in both security and civilian efforts (see Press Release SC/10199 of 17 March).
Mr. Tanin saw the comprehensive review as important opportunity to strengthen United Nations efforts in his country. His country looked forward to strengthening its partnership with the United Nations, in order to realize shared goals through the transition period and beyond.
The meeting was opened at 10:10 a.m. and closed at 10:15 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 1974 (2011) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolution 1917 (2010) extending through 23 March 2011 the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) as established by resolution 1662 (2006), and recalling also the report of the Security Council mission to Afghanistan, 21 to 24 June 2010 (S/2010/564),
“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,
“Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to address the situation in Afghanistan, and recognizing that there is no purely military solution to ensure the stability of Afghanistan,
“Reaffirming its continued support for the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, strengthen the foundations of sustainable peace and constitutional democracy and assume their rightful place in the community of nations,
“Welcoming the results of the Kabul International Conference on Afghanistan held on 20 July 2010 which constituted a milestone in the Kabul Process towards accelerated Afghan leadership and ownership, strengthened international partnership and regional cooperation, improved Afghan governance, enhanced capabilities of Afghan security forces, economic growth and better protection for the rights of all Afghan citizens, including women, and welcoming specifically the commitments made by the Afghan Government including the development of a framework, timelines and benchmarks for the new National Priority Programmes, progress towards transition to an Afghan security lead, improvement of governance and tackling of corruption,
“Reaffirming also the commitments made at the London Conference (S/2010/65), which set a clear agenda and agreed priorities for the way ahead on Afghanistan, underpinned by a comprehensive strategy to be taken forward by the Government of Afghanistan with the support of the region, the international community and with a central and impartial coordinating role for the United Nations,
“Looking forward to the international Afghanistan Conference to be held in Bonn in December 2011, under the leadership of the Government of Afghanistan,
“Reaffirming also in this context its support for the implementation, under the ownership of the Afghan people, of the commitments set out in the London and Kabul Conference Communiqués, of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and of the National Drugs Control Strategy, recognizing the threat posed by illicit drug production, trade, trafficking to international peace and stability in different regions of the world, and the important role played by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) in this regard, and noting that sustained and coordinated efforts by all relevant actors are required to consolidate progress made towards their implementation and to overcome continuing challenges,
“Stressing the central and impartial role that the United Nations continues to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the international community, including, jointly with the Government of Afghanistan, the coordination and monitoring of efforts in implementing the Kabul Process through the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) in support of the priorities set up by the Government of Afghanistan and expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General, his Special Representative for Afghanistan and in particular the women and men of UNAMA who are serving in difficult conditions to help the people of Afghanistan,
“Recalling the conclusions of the Consultative Peace Jirga and welcoming the establishment of the High Peace Council and its outreach efforts both within and outside Afghanistan,
“Recognizing the courage and dedication of millions of women and men who exercised their right to vote, in the face of serious security threats, in the 2010 legislative elections, recognizing also the Afghan leadership in the elections, including the work of the Independent Electoral Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission, welcoming the inauguration of a new Wolesi Jirga, recalling the Government of Afghanistan’s commitments at the Kabul Conference to long-term electoral reform, and stressing the need for completing electoral reforms in order to ensure that future elections will be transparent, credible and democratic, and reaffirming that Afghanistan’s peaceful future lies in the building of a stable, secure, economically self-sufficient state, free of terrorism and narcotics and based on strengthened democratic institutions, respect for the separation of powers, reinforced constitutional checks and balances and the guarantee and enforcement of citizens’ rights and obligations,
“Welcoming the contribution of the International Contact Group to the United Nations efforts in coordinating and broadening international support for Afghanistan, in particular the outcome of the International Contact Group’s last meeting in Jeddah, hosted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which demonstrated the increasing support of regional and other countries for peace, stability and development in Afghanistan,
“Stressing the crucial importance of advancing regional cooperation as an effective means to promote security, stability and economic and social development in Afghanistan, recalling the importance of the Kabul Declaration of 22 December 2002 on Good-Neighbourly Relations (Kabul Declaration) (S/2002/1416); welcoming, in this regard, the continued commitment of the international community to support stability and development in Afghanistan, noting international and regional initiatives such as the Istanbul “Heart of Asia” Summit, the quadrilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and the Russian Federation, as well as by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and looking forward to the Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) to be held in Tajikistan in the fall of this year,
“Welcoming the efforts of countries that are increasing their civilian and humanitarian efforts to assist the Government and the people of Afghanistan and encouraging the international community to further enhance their contributions in a coordinated manner with the Afghan authorities and UNAMA,
“Welcoming also the agreement reached at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Lisbon Summit 2010 between the Government of Afghanistan and countries contributing to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to gradually transfer lead security responsibility in Afghanistan to the Afghan National Security Forces country-wide by the end of 2014, taking note of the Declaration by NATO and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on an enduring partnership signed in Lisbon on 20 November 2010 acknowledging the joint efforts under the Inteqal/Transition process, welcoming the progress made so far in preparing the transition of a first tranche of provinces and municipal areas, and looking forward to the continued implementation of the Transition process,
“Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, governance, human rights, the rule of law, and development, as well as the cross-cutting issues of anti-corruption, counter-narcotics and transparency are mutually reinforcing and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government and the international community to address these challenges through a comprehensive approach,
“Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach in addressing the challenges in Afghanistan to a successful transition to Afghan security leadership beginning in early 2011, recognizing that security gains must be supported by progress in Afghan governance and development capacity and noting, in this context, the synergies in the objectives of UNAMA and of ISAF as also noted in resolution 1943 (2010), and stressing the need for strengthened cooperation, coordination and mutual support, taking due account of their respective designated responsibilities,
“Reiterating the need for all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, through the Country Team mechanism and a “One UN” approach and under the guidance of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, to increase efforts to achieve greater coherence, coordination, efficiency and full alignment with the National Priority Programmes identified by the Government of Afghanistan,
“Stressing the need to further improve the reach, quality and quantity of humanitarian aid, ensuring efficient, effective and timely coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance, including through enhanced coordination among the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes under the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and between the United Nations and other donors, especially where it is most needed, emphasizing in this regard the need for all, within the framework of humanitarian assistance, of upholding and respecting the humanitarian principles, of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence,
“Reiterating its concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in particular the ongoing violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in the production, trafficking or trade of illicit drugs, and the strong links between terrorism activities and illicit drugs, resulting in threats to the local population, including children, national security forces and international military and civilian personnel,
“Recognizing the continuously alarming threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups and illegal armed groups as well as the challenges related to the efforts to address such threats, and expressing its serious concern over the harmful consequences of violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups and illegal armed groups on the capacity of the Afghan Government to guarantee the rule of law, to provide security and basic services to the Afghan people, and to ensure the improvement and protection of their human rights and fundamental freedoms,
“Recalling its resolutions 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, expressing its serious concern with the increased high number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, in particular women and children casualties, the large majority of which are caused by the Taliban, Al‑Qaida, other violent extremist groups and illegal armed groups, reaffirming that all parties to armed conflict must take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians, calling for all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and for all appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the protection of civilians, and recognizing the importance of the ongoing monitoring and reporting to the United Nations Security Council, including by ISAF, of the situation of civilians and in particular civilian casualties, taking note of the progress made by Afghan and international forces in minimizing the civilian casualties,
“Expressing also concern with the serious threat that anti-personnel mines, remnants of war and improvised explosive devices pose to the civilian population, and stressing the need to refrain from the use of weapons and devices prohibited by international law,
“Supporting the Afghan Government’s continued ban of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer, and urging prompt action to implement regulations for the control of all explosive materials and precursor chemicals, thereby reducing the ability of insurgents to use them for improvised explosive devices,
“Recalling the declaration addressed to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) by the Government of Afghanistan that there is no legal use for acetic anhydride in Afghanistan for the time being and that producing and exporting countries should abstain from authorizing the export of this substance to Afghanistan without the request from the Afghan Government, and encouraging, pursuant to resolution 1817 (2008), Member States to increase their cooperation with the INCB, notably by fully complying with the provisions of article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988,
“Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) on women and peace and security, and its resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict, and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/55) on Children and Armed Conflict in Afghanistan,
“1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 11 March 2011 (S/2011/120);
“2. Expresses its appreciation for the United Nations’ long-term commitment to work with the Government and the people of Afghanistan and reiterates its full support to the work of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General;
“3. Decides to extend until 23 March 2012 the mandate of UNAMA, as defined in its resolutions 1662 (2006), 1746 (2007), 1806 (2008), 1868 (2009), 1917 (2010) and paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 below;
“4. Calls on the United Nations, with the support of the international community, to support the Government of Afghanistan’s National Priority Programmes covering the issues of security, governance, justice and economic and social development and to support the full implementation of mutual commitments made on these issues at the Kabul and London Conferences, as well as on continuing implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy, and requests that UNAMA assist the Government of Afghanistan on its way towards Afghan leadership, as defined by the Kabul process;
“5. Decides further that UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, within their mandate and guided by the principle of reinforcing Afghan sovereignty, ownership and leadership, will continue to lead the international civilian efforts, in accordance with the London and Kabul Conference Communiqués, and with a particular focus on the priorities laid out below:
(a) promote, as co-chair of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB), more coherent support by the international community to the Afghan Government’s development and governance priorities, including through supporting the ongoing development of the new National Priority Programmes, mobilization of resources, coordination of international donors and organizations, and direction of the contributions of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, in particular for counter-narcotics, reconstruction and development activities; at the same time, support efforts to increase the proportion of development aid delivered through the Afghan Government, and support efforts to increase the transparency and effectiveness of the Afghan Government’s use of such resources;
(b) strengthen the cooperation with ISAF and the NATO Senior Civilian Representative at all levels and throughout the country in support of the transition to Afghan leadership agreed to at the Kabul and London Conferences and the Lisbon Summit, in a sustainable manner to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of all Afghans, in accordance with their existing mandates, in order to improve civil-military coordination, to facilitate the timely exchange of information and, to ensure coherence between the activities of national and international security forces and of civilian actors in support of an Afghan-led development and stabilization process, including through engagement with provincial reconstruction teams and engagement with non-governmental organizations, in particular through its participation on the Joint Afghan-NATO Inteqal Board (JANIB) as an observer;
(c) provide outreach as well as good offices to support, if requested by the Afghan Government, the Afghan-led process of peace and reconciliation, including through the implementation of the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Programme and proposing and supporting confidence building measures within the framework of the Afghan Constitution and with full respect for the implementation of measures and application of the procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1822 (2008) and 1904 (2009) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council;
(d) support, at the request of the Afghan authorities, the organization of future Afghan elections, as well as supporting work on the sustainability and integrity of the electoral process, as agreed at the London and Kabul Conferences; and provide capacity-building and technical assistance to the Afghan institutions involved in this process;
“6. Also reaffirms that UNAMA and the Special Representative will continue to lead international civilian efforts in the following priority areas:
(a) support regional cooperation to work towards a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, building on the achievements made;
(b) through a strengthened UNAMA presence, promote, in support of the Afghan Government’s efforts, implementation of the Kabul Process throughout the country including through enhanced cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and facilitate inclusion in and understanding of the Government’s policies;
(c) support the efforts of the Afghan Government to improve governance and the rule of law including transitional justice, budget execution and the fight against corruption, throughout the country in accordance with the Kabul Process, with a view to helping bring the benefits of peace and the delivery of services in a timely and sustainable manner;
(d) continue, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to cooperate with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), to cooperate also with the Afghan Government and relevant international and local non-governmental organizations to monitor the situation of civilians, to coordinate efforts to ensure their protection, to promote accountability, and to assist in the full implementation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party, in particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights;
(e) to coordinate and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, in support of the Afghan Government and in accordance with humanitarian principles, with a view to building the capacity of the Government so it can assume the central and coordinating role in the future, including by providing effective support to national and local authorities in assisting and protecting internally displaced persons and to creating conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons;
“7. Calls upon all Afghan and international parties to coordinate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and in efforts to promote the security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel throughout the country;
“8. Reiterates the need to ensure security of United Nations staff and its support for the measures already taken by the Secretary-General in this regard;
“9. Stresses the importance of a strong presence of UNAMA and other United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in the provinces, encourages the Secretary-General to continue his current efforts to take necessary measures to address the security issues associated with their presence, and strongly supports the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the coordination of all activities of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Afghanistan;
“10. Underscores the importance of a sustainable democratic development in Afghanistan with all Afghan institutions acting within their clearly defined areas of competence, in accordance with the relevant laws and the Afghan Constitution and welcomes, in this regard, the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to work closely with the United Nations to build on the lessons learned from the 2009 and 2010 elections to deliver further improvements to the electoral process, including addressing the sustainability of the electoral process, and, taking into account the commitments made at the London and Kabul Conferences, reaffirms UNAMA’s leading role in supporting, at the request of the Afghan Government, the realization of these commitments, and requests that, upon the request of the Government of Afghanistan, UNAMA provide technical assistance to the relevant Afghan institutions to support constructive electoral reforms; and further calls upon members of the international community to provide assistance as appropriate;
“11. Welcomes the renewed efforts of the Afghan Government, including through the national Consultative Peace Jirga held in June 2010, the establishment of the High Peace Council and the implementation of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, to promote dialogue with those elements in opposition to the Government who are ready to renounce violence, break ties with Al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations, denounce terrorism and accept the Afghan Constitution, particularly as it relates to gender and human rights issues, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan to make use of UNAMA’s good offices to support this process as appropriate, in full respect of the implementation of measures and procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999), 1822 (2008) and 1904 (2009) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council, also welcomes the measures taken by the Government of Afghanistan, and encourages it to continue to increase the participation of women, minorities and civil society in outreach and consultation processes, and recalls that women can play a vital role in the peace process, as recognized in Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions;
“12. Stresses the role of UNAMA in supporting the process of peace and reconciliation, including the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Programme, as mandated in this Resolution, and encourages the international community to assist the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in this regard including through continued support to the Peace and Reintegration Trust Fund and, in this context, notes the conference on reintegration to be hosted by the Afghan Government in Kabul in the spring of this year;
“13. Welcomes ongoing efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, its neighbouring and regional partners and international organizations including the Organization of the Islamic Conference to foster trust and cooperation with each other as well as recent cooperation initiatives developed by the countries concerned and regional organizations, including the Fifth Trilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey held in Istanbul and the results of the latest Istanbul Conference of 3 November 2010, notes the proposed Afghanistan Regional Conference to be organized by Turkey and looks forward to the Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) to be held in Tajikistan in the fall of this year, further welcomes the reaffirmation in the Kabul Conference Communiqué of the principles set out in the Good Neighbourly Relations Declaration of 2002, and stresses the importance of increasing cooperation between Afghanistan and its partners against the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups and illegal armed groups, in promoting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and in fostering cooperation in the economic and development sectors as a means to achieve the full integration of Afghanistan into regional dynamics and the global economy;
“14. Reaffirms the central role played by the JCMB in coordinating, facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the National Priority Programmes and calls upon all relevant actors to enhance their cooperation with the JCMB in this regard with a view to further improve its efficiency;
“15. Calls on international donors and organizations and the Afghan Government to adhere to their commitments made at the Kabul Conference and previous international conferences, and reiterates the importance of further efforts in improving aid coordination and effectiveness, including by ensuring transparency, combating corruption; and enhancing the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to coordinate aid;
“16. Calls upon the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, including ISAF and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities as they evolve, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in the production, trafficking or trade of illicit drugs;
“17. Condemns in the strongest terms all attacks, including Improvised Explosive Device attacks, suicide attacks, assassinations and abductions, targeting civilians and Afghan and international forces and their deleterious effect on the stabilization, reconstruction and development efforts in Afghanistan, and condemns further the use by the Taliban and other extremist groups of civilians as human shields;
“18. Condemns also attacks against humanitarian workers, emphasizing that the attacks impede efforts to aid the people of Afghanistan, and underlines the need for all parties to ensure safe and unhindered access of all humanitarian actors, including United Nations staff and associated personnel, and comply fully with applicable international humanitarian law;
“19. Welcomes the achievements to date in the implementation of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan, with the support of the United Nations and all the relevant actors, to continue its efforts towards the removal of anti-personnel landmines, anti-tank landmines and explosive remnants of war in order to reduce the threats posed to human life and peace and security in the country; and expresses the need to provide assistance for the care, rehabilitation, and economic and social reintegration of victims, including persons with disabilities;
“20. Recognizes the progress made by ISAF and other international forces in minimizing the risk of civilian casualties, as described in the 9 March 2011 UNAMA report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and calls on them to continue to take robust efforts in this regard, notably by the continuous review of tactics and procedures and the conduct of after-action reviews and investigations in cooperation with the Afghan Government in cases where civilian casualties have occurred and when the Afghan Government finds these joint investigations appropriate;
“21. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring access for relevant organizations, as applicable, to all prisons and places of detention in Afghanistan, and calls for full respect for relevant international law including humanitarian law and human rights law;
“22. Expresses its strong concern about the recruitment and use of children by Taliban forces in Afghanistan as well as the killing and maiming of children as a result of the conflict, reiterates its strong condemnation of the recruitment and use of child soldiers in violation of applicable international law and all other violations and abuses committed against children in situations of armed conflict, in particular attacks against schools, education and health-care facilities, and the use of children in suicide attacks, calls for those responsible to be brought to justice, stresses the importance of implementing Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009), in this context, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen the child protection component of UNAMA, in particular through the appointment of child protection advisers;
“23. Welcomes the recent signing of a comprehensive, time-bound and verifiable Action Plan between the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations to halt the use and recruitment of children into the Afghan National Security Forces;
“24. Reiterates the importance of increasing, in a comprehensive framework, the functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector through appropriate vetting procedures, training, mentoring, equipping and empowerment efforts, for both women and men, in order to accelerate progress towards the goal of self-sufficient and ethnically balanced Afghan security forces providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country;
“25. Welcomes in this context the continued progress in the development of the Afghan National Army and its improved ability to plan and undertake operations, and encourages sustained training efforts, including through the contribution of trainers, resources and Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams through the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, and advice in developing a sustainable defence planning process as well as assistance in defence reform initiatives;
“26. Takes note of the ongoing efforts of the Afghan authorities to enhance the capabilities of the Afghan National Police, calls for further efforts towards that goal and stresses the importance, in this context, of international assistance through financial support and provision of trainers and mentors, including the contribution of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) contribution to this mission and the European Union through its police mission (EUPOL Afghanistan);
“27. Welcomes the progress in the implementation by the Afghan Government of the programme of disbandment of illegal armed groups and its integration with the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, and calls for accelerated and harmonized efforts for further progress, with support from the international community;
“28. Takes note of the recent progress in addressing and the drop in opium production, remains concerned at the serious harm that opium cultivation, production and trafficking and consumption continue to cause to the security, development and governance of Afghanistan as well as to the region and internationally, calls on the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, to accelerate the implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy, including through alternative livelihood programmes, and to mainstream counter-narcotics throughout national programmes, and encourages additional international support for the four priorities identified in that Strategy; commends the support provided by the UNODC to the Triangular Initiative and the Central Asian Regional Coordination and Information Centre (CARICC) within the framework of the Paris Pact Initiative and the Rainbow Strategy; as well as the contribution of Domodedovo Police Academy of Russia;
“29. Calls upon States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter the threat to the international community posed by the production, trafficking, and consumption of illicit drugs originating in Afghanistan, in accordance with the principle of common and shared responsibility in addressing the drug problem of Afghanistan including through strengthening the law enforcement capacity and cooperation against the trafficking in illicit drugs and precursor chemicals and money-laundering and corruption linked to such trafficking, notes the proposed Third Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan to be held in 2011 within the framework of the Paris Pact initiative and its “Paris-Moscow” process, and, in this regard, calls for full implementation of its resolution 1817 (2008);
“30. Calls for the continuation of the Paris Pact initiative in countering the production, trafficking and consumption of opium and heroin from Afghanistan and the elimination of poppy crops, drug laboratories and stores as well as the interception of drug convoys, underlines the importance of border management cooperation and welcomes the intensified cooperation of the relevant United Nations institutions with the OSCE and the Collective Security Treaty Organization in this regard;
“31. Reiterates the importance of the full, sequenced, timely and coordinated implementation of the National Priority Programme on Law and Justice for All, by all the relevant Afghan institutions and other actors in view of accelerating the establishment of a fair and transparent justice system, eliminating impunity and contributing to the affirmation of the rule of law throughout the country;
“32. Stresses in this context the importance of further progress in the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in Afghanistan, in order to improve the respect for the rule of law and human rights therein;
“33. Notes with strong concern the effects of widespread corruption on security, good governance, counter-narcotics efforts and economic development, and urges the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, to vigorously lead the fight against corruption, and to enhance its efforts to establish a more effective, accountable and transparent administration;
“34. Encourages all Afghan institutions, including the executive and legislative branches, to work in a spirit of cooperation, calls on the Afghan Government to pursue continued legislative and public administration reform in order to ensure good governance, with full representation of all Afghan women and men, and accountability at both national and subnational levels, and stresses the need for further international efforts to provide technical assistance in this area;
“35. Calls for full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan, welcomes the growth in Afghan free media, but notes with concern the continued restrictions on freedom of media, and attacks against journalists, commends the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) for its courageous efforts to monitor respect for human rights in Afghanistan as well as to foster and protect these rights and to promote the emergence of a pluralistic civil society, and stresses the importance of full cooperation with the AIHRC by all relevant actors; and supports broad engagement across government agencies and civil society for the realization of the mutual commitments made, including the commitment to provide sufficient government financing for the AIHRC;
“36. Recognizes that despite progress achieved on gender equality, enhanced efforts are necessary to secure the rights of women and girls, strongly condemns continuing forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, in particular violence aimed at preventing girls from attending schools, stresses the importance of implementing Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010), and of ensuring that women fleeing domestic violence are able to find safe and secure refuge;
“37. Welcomes the Afghan Government’s commitment to strengthen the participation of women in all Afghan governance institutions, including elected and appointed bodies and the civil service, supports efforts to accelerate implementation of the National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan (NAPWA), to integrate its benchmarks into the National Priority Programmes and to develop a strategy to implement the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) law, including services to victims, recalls that the promotion and protection of women’s rights are an integral part of peace, reintegration and reconciliation, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to include in its reports to the Security Council relevant information on the process of integration of women into the political, economic and social life of Afghanistan;
“38. Welcomes the cooperation of the Afghan Government and UNAMA with the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) with the implementation of resolution 1904 (2009), including by providing relevant information for updating the Consolidated List, and by identifying individuals and entities participating in the financing or support of acts or activities of Al-Qaida and the Taliban using proceeds derived from illicit cultivation, production and trafficking of narcotic drugs and their precursors, and encourages the continuation of such cooperation;
“39. Calls for strengthening the process of regional economic cooperation, including measures to facilitate regional trade, to increase foreign investments and to develop infrastructure, noting Afghanistan’s historic role as a land bridge in Asia;
“40. Recognizes the importance of voluntary, safe, orderly return and sustainable reintegration of the remaining Afghan refugees for the stability of the country and the region, and calls for continued and enhanced international assistance in this regard;
“41. Affirms also the importance of voluntary, safe, orderly return and sustainable reintegration of the internally displaced persons;
“42. Requests that the Secretary-General reports to the Council every three months on developments in Afghanistan, and to include in his reports an evaluation of progress made against the benchmarks for measuring and tracking progress in the implementation of UNAMA’s mandate and priorities as set out in this resolution;
“43. Further requests that the Secretary-General conduct a comprehensive review of UNAMA’s mandated activities and the United Nations’ support in Afghanistan, including UNAMA’s presence throughout the country, in consultation with the Afghan Government and relevant international stakeholders, by the end of 2011, with the aim of strengthening national ownership and leadership consistent with the Kabul Process, taking into account the evolving nature of the international community’s presence and the role of ISAF, and including first experiences with the Transition (Inteqal), with a view to informing the Council’s review of UNAMA’s mandate in March 2012; and calls on all actors concerned to cooperate with UNAMA in this process;
“44. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”
Zie ook:
VN-veiligheidsraad verlengt UNAMA-hulpmissie Afghanistan met een jaar
SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF AFGHANISTAN MISSION UNTIL 23 MARCH 2012,
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1974 (2011)
Afghanistan’s Representative Says Text Reaffirms International Commitment,
While Underscoring Importance of Transition to Afghan Ownership, Leadership
Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to challenges in Afghanistan and affirming the need to reinforce Afghan ownership of those efforts, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country, known as UNAMA, for one year, until 23 March 2012.
Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1974 (2011), the Council decided that UNAMA, guided by the principle of reinforcing Afghan sovereignty, ownership and leadership, would continue to lead international civilian support to the Afghan Government in accordance with the London and Kabul conference communiqués, with a particular focus on strengthening coordination between international programmes in development and governance assistance, as well as between civilian and military operations.
In particular, it decided UNAMA would promote more coherent support to the Afghan Government, as co-chair of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, in the ongoing development of the New National Priority Programmes, mobilization of resources, coordination of international donors and organizations and direction of United Nations support efforts in counter-narcotics, reconstruction and development activities.
At the same time, it decided that UNAMA would support efforts to increase the proportion of development aid delivered through the Afghan Government and support efforts to increase the transparency and effectiveness of the Government’s use of such resources.
The Council stressed the importance of a strong presence of UNAMA and other United Nations units in the provinces and encouraged efforts to address associated security issues. It reaffirmed UNAMA’s leading role in supporting, at the request of the Government, the realization of commitments made to further improve the electoral process.
Through the text, the Council also stressed the role of UNAMA in supporting the process of peace and reconciliation and encouraged the international community to assist the Government through support to the Peace and Reintegration Trust fund and other means.
It requested that the Secretary-General conduct a comprehensive review of United Nations support in Afghanistan in consultation with all stakeholders by the end of 2011, taking into account the need to strengthen Afghan leadership and ownership and the evolving nature of international support.
Following the adoption of the resolution, Afghanistan’s representative, Zahir Tanin, thanked the Council for the action, saying it reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to his country while also underscoring the importance of the transition to Afghan ownership and leadership. At the same time, it promoted the streamlining of United Nations activities in line with Afghan priorities, he said.
In his latest report, the Secretary-General recommended the mandate extension, saying that the Mission should continue to support the so-called “ Kabul process” that spelled out a transition to greater Afghan responsibility and ownership in both security and civilian efforts (see Press Release SC/10199 of 17 March).
Mr. Tanin saw the comprehensive review as important opportunity to strengthen United Nations efforts in his country. His country looked forward to strengthening its partnership with the United Nations, in order to realize shared goals through the transition period and beyond.
The meeting was opened at 10:10 a.m. and closed at 10:15 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 1974 (2011) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolution 1917 (2010) extending through 23 March 2011 the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) as established by resolution 1662 (2006), and recalling also the report of the Security Council mission to Afghanistan, 21 to 24 June 2010 (S/2010/564),
“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,
“Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to address the situation in Afghanistan, and recognizing that there is no purely military solution to ensure the stability of Afghanistan,
“Reaffirming its continued support for the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, strengthen the foundations of sustainable peace and constitutional democracy and assume their rightful place in the community of nations,
“Welcoming the results of the Kabul International Conference on Afghanistan held on 20 July 2010 which constituted a milestone in the Kabul Process towards accelerated Afghan leadership and ownership, strengthened international partnership and regional cooperation, improved Afghan governance, enhanced capabilities of Afghan security forces, economic growth and better protection for the rights of all Afghan citizens, including women, and welcoming specifically the commitments made by the Afghan Government including the development of a framework, timelines and benchmarks for the new National Priority Programmes, progress towards transition to an Afghan security lead, improvement of governance and tackling of corruption,
“Reaffirming also the commitments made at the London Conference (S/2010/65), which set a clear agenda and agreed priorities for the way ahead on Afghanistan, underpinned by a comprehensive strategy to be taken forward by the Government of Afghanistan with the support of the region, the international community and with a central and impartial coordinating role for the United Nations,
“Looking forward to the international Afghanistan Conference to be held in Bonn in December 2011, under the leadership of the Government of Afghanistan,
“Reaffirming also in this context its support for the implementation, under the ownership of the Afghan people, of the commitments set out in the London and Kabul Conference Communiqués, of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and of the National Drugs Control Strategy, recognizing the threat posed by illicit drug production, trade, trafficking to international peace and stability in different regions of the world, and the important role played by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) in this regard, and noting that sustained and coordinated efforts by all relevant actors are required to consolidate progress made towards their implementation and to overcome continuing challenges,
“Stressing the central and impartial role that the United Nations continues to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the international community, including, jointly with the Government of Afghanistan, the coordination and monitoring of efforts in implementing the Kabul Process through the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) in support of the priorities set up by the Government of Afghanistan and expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General, his Special Representative for Afghanistan and in particular the women and men of UNAMA who are serving in difficult conditions to help the people of Afghanistan,
“Recalling the conclusions of the Consultative Peace Jirga and welcoming the establishment of the High Peace Council and its outreach efforts both within and outside Afghanistan,
“Recognizing the courage and dedication of millions of women and men who exercised their right to vote, in the face of serious security threats, in the 2010 legislative elections, recognizing also the Afghan leadership in the elections, including the work of the Independent Electoral Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission, welcoming the inauguration of a new Wolesi Jirga, recalling the Government of Afghanistan’s commitments at the Kabul Conference to long-term electoral reform, and stressing the need for completing electoral reforms in order to ensure that future elections will be transparent, credible and democratic, and reaffirming that Afghanistan’s peaceful future lies in the building of a stable, secure, economically self-sufficient state, free of terrorism and narcotics and based on strengthened democratic institutions, respect for the separation of powers, reinforced constitutional checks and balances and the guarantee and enforcement of citizens’ rights and obligations,
“Welcoming the contribution of the International Contact Group to the United Nations efforts in coordinating and broadening international support for Afghanistan, in particular the outcome of the International Contact Group’s last meeting in Jeddah, hosted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which demonstrated the increasing support of regional and other countries for peace, stability and development in Afghanistan,
“Stressing the crucial importance of advancing regional cooperation as an effective means to promote security, stability and economic and social development in Afghanistan, recalling the importance of the Kabul Declaration of 22 December 2002 on Good-Neighbourly Relations (Kabul Declaration) (S/2002/1416); welcoming, in this regard, the continued commitment of the international community to support stability and development in Afghanistan, noting international and regional initiatives such as the Istanbul “Heart of Asia” Summit, the quadrilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and the Russian Federation, as well as by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and looking forward to the Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) to be held in Tajikistan in the fall of this year,
“Welcoming the efforts of countries that are increasing their civilian and humanitarian efforts to assist the Government and the people of Afghanistan and encouraging the international community to further enhance their contributions in a coordinated manner with the Afghan authorities and UNAMA,
“Welcoming also the agreement reached at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Lisbon Summit 2010 between the Government of Afghanistan and countries contributing to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to gradually transfer lead security responsibility in Afghanistan to the Afghan National Security Forces country-wide by the end of 2014, taking note of the Declaration by NATO and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on an enduring partnership signed in Lisbon on 20 November 2010 acknowledging the joint efforts under the Inteqal/Transition process, welcoming the progress made so far in preparing the transition of a first tranche of provinces and municipal areas, and looking forward to the continued implementation of the Transition process,
“Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, governance, human rights, the rule of law, and development, as well as the cross-cutting issues of anti-corruption, counter-narcotics and transparency are mutually reinforcing and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government and the international community to address these challenges through a comprehensive approach,
“Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach in addressing the challenges in Afghanistan to a successful transition to Afghan security leadership beginning in early 2011, recognizing that security gains must be supported by progress in Afghan governance and development capacity and noting, in this context, the synergies in the objectives of UNAMA and of ISAF as also noted in resolution 1943 (2010), and stressing the need for strengthened cooperation, coordination and mutual support, taking due account of their respective designated responsibilities,
“Reiterating the need for all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, through the Country Team mechanism and a “One UN” approach and under the guidance of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, to increase efforts to achieve greater coherence, coordination, efficiency and full alignment with the National Priority Programmes identified by the Government of Afghanistan,
“Stressing the need to further improve the reach, quality and quantity of humanitarian aid, ensuring efficient, effective and timely coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance, including through enhanced coordination among the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes under the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and between the United Nations and other donors, especially where it is most needed, emphasizing in this regard the need for all, within the framework of humanitarian assistance, of upholding and respecting the humanitarian principles, of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence,
“Reiterating its concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in particular the ongoing violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in the production, trafficking or trade of illicit drugs, and the strong links between terrorism activities and illicit drugs, resulting in threats to the local population, including children, national security forces and international military and civilian personnel,
“Recognizing the continuously alarming threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups and illegal armed groups as well as the challenges related to the efforts to address such threats, and expressing its serious concern over the harmful consequences of violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups and illegal armed groups on the capacity of the Afghan Government to guarantee the rule of law, to provide security and basic services to the Afghan people, and to ensure the improvement and protection of their human rights and fundamental freedoms,
“Recalling its resolutions 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, expressing its serious concern with the increased high number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, in particular women and children casualties, the large majority of which are caused by the Taliban, Al‑Qaida, other violent extremist groups and illegal armed groups, reaffirming that all parties to armed conflict must take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians, calling for all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and for all appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the protection of civilians, and recognizing the importance of the ongoing monitoring and reporting to the United Nations Security Council, including by ISAF, of the situation of civilians and in particular civilian casualties, taking note of the progress made by Afghan and international forces in minimizing the civilian casualties,
“Expressing also concern with the serious threat that anti-personnel mines, remnants of war and improvised explosive devices pose to the civilian population, and stressing the need to refrain from the use of weapons and devices prohibited by international law,
“Supporting the Afghan Government’s continued ban of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer, and urging prompt action to implement regulations for the control of all explosive materials and precursor chemicals, thereby reducing the ability of insurgents to use them for improvised explosive devices,
“Recalling the declaration addressed to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) by the Government of Afghanistan that there is no legal use for acetic anhydride in Afghanistan for the time being and that producing and exporting countries should abstain from authorizing the export of this substance to Afghanistan without the request from the Afghan Government, and encouraging, pursuant to resolution 1817 (2008), Member States to increase their cooperation with the INCB, notably by fully complying with the provisions of article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988,
“Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) on women and peace and security, and its resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict, and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/55) on Children and Armed Conflict in Afghanistan,
“1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 11 March 2011 (S/2011/120);
“2. Expresses its appreciation for the United Nations’ long-term commitment to work with the Government and the people of Afghanistan and reiterates its full support to the work of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General;
“3. Decides to extend until 23 March 2012 the mandate of UNAMA, as defined in its resolutions 1662 (2006), 1746 (2007), 1806 (2008), 1868 (2009), 1917 (2010) and paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 below;
“4. Calls on the United Nations, with the support of the international community, to support the Government of Afghanistan’s National Priority Programmes covering the issues of security, governance, justice and economic and social development and to support the full implementation of mutual commitments made on these issues at the Kabul and London Conferences, as well as on continuing implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy, and requests that UNAMA assist the Government of Afghanistan on its way towards Afghan leadership, as defined by the Kabul process;
“5. Decides further that UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, within their mandate and guided by the principle of reinforcing Afghan sovereignty, ownership and leadership, will continue to lead the international civilian efforts, in accordance with the London and Kabul Conference Communiqués, and with a particular focus on the priorities laid out below:
(a) promote, as co-chair of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB), more coherent support by the international community to the Afghan Government’s development and governance priorities, including through supporting the ongoing development of the new National Priority Programmes, mobilization of resources, coordination of international donors and organizations, and direction of the contributions of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, in particular for counter-narcotics, reconstruction and development activities; at the same time, support efforts to increase the proportion of development aid delivered through the Afghan Government, and support efforts to increase the transparency and effectiveness of the Afghan Government’s use of such resources;
(b) strengthen the cooperation with ISAF and the NATO Senior Civilian Representative at all levels and throughout the country in support of the transition to Afghan leadership agreed to at the Kabul and London Conferences and the Lisbon Summit, in a sustainable manner to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of all Afghans, in accordance with their existing mandates, in order to improve civil-military coordination, to facilitate the timely exchange of information and, to ensure coherence between the activities of national and international security forces and of civilian actors in support of an Afghan-led development and stabilization process, including through engagement with provincial reconstruction teams and engagement with non-governmental organizations, in particular through its participation on the Joint Afghan-NATO Inteqal Board (JANIB) as an observer;
(c) provide outreach as well as good offices to support, if requested by the Afghan Government, the Afghan-led process of peace and reconciliation, including through the implementation of the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Programme and proposing and supporting confidence building measures within the framework of the Afghan Constitution and with full respect for the implementation of measures and application of the procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1822 (2008) and 1904 (2009) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council;
(d) support, at the request of the Afghan authorities, the organization of future Afghan elections, as well as supporting work on the sustainability and integrity of the electoral process, as agreed at the London and Kabul Conferences; and provide capacity-building and technical assistance to the Afghan institutions involved in this process;
“6. Also reaffirms that UNAMA and the Special Representative will continue to lead international civilian efforts in the following priority areas:
(a) support regional cooperation to work towards a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, building on the achievements made;
(b) through a strengthened UNAMA presence, promote, in support of the Afghan Government’s efforts, implementation of the Kabul Process throughout the country including through enhanced cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and facilitate inclusion in and understanding of the Government’s policies;
(c) support the efforts of the Afghan Government to improve governance and the rule of law including transitional justice, budget execution and the fight against corruption, throughout the country in accordance with the Kabul Process, with a view to helping bring the benefits of peace and the delivery of services in a timely and sustainable manner;
(d) continue, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to cooperate with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), to cooperate also with the Afghan Government and relevant international and local non-governmental organizations to monitor the situation of civilians, to coordinate efforts to ensure their protection, to promote accountability, and to assist in the full implementation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party, in particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights;
(e) to coordinate and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, in support of the Afghan Government and in accordance with humanitarian principles, with a view to building the capacity of the Government so it can assume the central and coordinating role in the future, including by providing effective support to national and local authorities in assisting and protecting internally displaced persons and to creating conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons;
“7. Calls upon all Afghan and international parties to coordinate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and in efforts to promote the security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel throughout the country;
“8. Reiterates the need to ensure security of United Nations staff and its support for the measures already taken by the Secretary-General in this regard;
“9. Stresses the importance of a strong presence of UNAMA and other United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in the provinces, encourages the Secretary-General to continue his current efforts to take necessary measures to address the security issues associated with their presence, and strongly supports the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the coordination of all activities of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Afghanistan;
“10. Underscores the importance of a sustainable democratic development in Afghanistan with all Afghan institutions acting within their clearly defined areas of competence, in accordance with the relevant laws and the Afghan Constitution and welcomes, in this regard, the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to work closely with the United Nations to build on the lessons learned from the 2009 and 2010 elections to deliver further improvements to the electoral process, including addressing the sustainability of the electoral process, and, taking into account the commitments made at the London and Kabul Conferences, reaffirms UNAMA’s leading role in supporting, at the request of the Afghan Government, the realization of these commitments, and requests that, upon the request of the Government of Afghanistan, UNAMA provide technical assistance to the relevant Afghan institutions to support constructive electoral reforms; and further calls upon members of the international community to provide assistance as appropriate;
“11. Welcomes the renewed efforts of the Afghan Government, including through the national Consultative Peace Jirga held in June 2010, the establishment of the High Peace Council and the implementation of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, to promote dialogue with those elements in opposition to the Government who are ready to renounce violence, break ties with Al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations, denounce terrorism and accept the Afghan Constitution, particularly as it relates to gender and human rights issues, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan to make use of UNAMA’s good offices to support this process as appropriate, in full respect of the implementation of measures and procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999), 1822 (2008) and 1904 (2009) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council, also welcomes the measures taken by the Government of Afghanistan, and encourages it to continue to increase the participation of women, minorities and civil society in outreach and consultation processes, and recalls that women can play a vital role in the peace process, as recognized in Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions;
“12. Stresses the role of UNAMA in supporting the process of peace and reconciliation, including the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Programme, as mandated in this Resolution, and encourages the international community to assist the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in this regard including through continued support to the Peace and Reintegration Trust Fund and, in this context, notes the conference on reintegration to be hosted by the Afghan Government in Kabul in the spring of this year;
“13. Welcomes ongoing efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, its neighbouring and regional partners and international organizations including the Organization of the Islamic Conference to foster trust and cooperation with each other as well as recent cooperation initiatives developed by the countries concerned and regional organizations, including the Fifth Trilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey held in Istanbul and the results of the latest Istanbul Conference of 3 November 2010, notes the proposed Afghanistan Regional Conference to be organized by Turkey and looks forward to the Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) to be held in Tajikistan in the fall of this year, further welcomes the reaffirmation in the Kabul Conference Communiqué of the principles set out in the Good Neighbourly Relations Declaration of 2002, and stresses the importance of increasing cooperation between Afghanistan and its partners against the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups and illegal armed groups, in promoting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and in fostering cooperation in the economic and development sectors as a means to achieve the full integration of Afghanistan into regional dynamics and the global economy;
“14. Reaffirms the central role played by the JCMB in coordinating, facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the National Priority Programmes and calls upon all relevant actors to enhance their cooperation with the JCMB in this regard with a view to further improve its efficiency;
“15. Calls on international donors and organizations and the Afghan Government to adhere to their commitments made at the Kabul Conference and previous international conferences, and reiterates the importance of further efforts in improving aid coordination and effectiveness, including by ensuring transparency, combating corruption; and enhancing the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to coordinate aid;
“16. Calls upon the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, including ISAF and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities as they evolve, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other violent extremist groups, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in the production, trafficking or trade of illicit drugs;
“17. Condemns in the strongest terms all attacks, including Improvised Explosive Device attacks, suicide attacks, assassinations and abductions, targeting civilians and Afghan and international forces and their deleterious effect on the stabilization, reconstruction and development efforts in Afghanistan, and condemns further the use by the Taliban and other extremist groups of civilians as human shields;
“18. Condemns also attacks against humanitarian workers, emphasizing that the attacks impede efforts to aid the people of Afghanistan, and underlines the need for all parties to ensure safe and unhindered access of all humanitarian actors, including United Nations staff and associated personnel, and comply fully with applicable international humanitarian law;
“19. Welcomes the achievements to date in the implementation of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan, with the support of the United Nations and all the relevant actors, to continue its efforts towards the removal of anti-personnel landmines, anti-tank landmines and explosive remnants of war in order to reduce the threats posed to human life and peace and security in the country; and expresses the need to provide assistance for the care, rehabilitation, and economic and social reintegration of victims, including persons with disabilities;
“20. Recognizes the progress made by ISAF and other international forces in minimizing the risk of civilian casualties, as described in the 9 March 2011 UNAMA report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and calls on them to continue to take robust efforts in this regard, notably by the continuous review of tactics and procedures and the conduct of after-action reviews and investigations in cooperation with the Afghan Government in cases where civilian casualties have occurred and when the Afghan Government finds these joint investigations appropriate;
“21. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring access for relevant organizations, as applicable, to all prisons and places of detention in Afghanistan, and calls for full respect for relevant international law including humanitarian law and human rights law;
“22. Expresses its strong concern about the recruitment and use of children by Taliban forces in Afghanistan as well as the killing and maiming of children as a result of the conflict, reiterates its strong condemnation of the recruitment and use of child soldiers in violation of applicable international law and all other violations and abuses committed against children in situations of armed conflict, in particular attacks against schools, education and health-care facilities, and the use of children in suicide attacks, calls for those responsible to be brought to justice, stresses the importance of implementing Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009), in this context, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen the child protection component of UNAMA, in particular through the appointment of child protection advisers;
“23. Welcomes the recent signing of a comprehensive, time-bound and verifiable Action Plan between the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations to halt the use and recruitment of children into the Afghan National Security Forces;
“24. Reiterates the importance of increasing, in a comprehensive framework, the functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector through appropriate vetting procedures, training, mentoring, equipping and empowerment efforts, for both women and men, in order to accelerate progress towards the goal of self-sufficient and ethnically balanced Afghan security forces providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country;
“25. Welcomes in this context the continued progress in the development of the Afghan National Army and its improved ability to plan and undertake operations, and encourages sustained training efforts, including through the contribution of trainers, resources and Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams through the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, and advice in developing a sustainable defence planning process as well as assistance in defence reform initiatives;
“26. Takes note of the ongoing efforts of the Afghan authorities to enhance the capabilities of the Afghan National Police, calls for further efforts towards that goal and stresses the importance, in this context, of international assistance through financial support and provision of trainers and mentors, including the contribution of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) contribution to this mission and the European Union through its police mission (EUPOL Afghanistan);
“27. Welcomes the progress in the implementation by the Afghan Government of the programme of disbandment of illegal armed groups and its integration with the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, and calls for accelerated and harmonized efforts for further progress, with support from the international community;
“28. Takes note of the recent progress in addressing and the drop in opium production, remains concerned at the serious harm that opium cultivation, production and trafficking and consumption continue to cause to the security, development and governance of Afghanistan as well as to the region and internationally, calls on the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, to accelerate the implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy, including through alternative livelihood programmes, and to mainstream counter-narcotics throughout national programmes, and encourages additional international support for the four priorities identified in that Strategy; commends the support provided by the UNODC to the Triangular Initiative and the Central Asian Regional Coordination and Information Centre (CARICC) within the framework of the Paris Pact Initiative and the Rainbow Strategy; as well as the contribution of Domodedovo Police Academy of Russia;
“29. Calls upon States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter the threat to the international community posed by the production, trafficking, and consumption of illicit drugs originating in Afghanistan, in accordance with the principle of common and shared responsibility in addressing the drug problem of Afghanistan including through strengthening the law enforcement capacity and cooperation against the trafficking in illicit drugs and precursor chemicals and money-laundering and corruption linked to such trafficking, notes the proposed Third Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan to be held in 2011 within the framework of the Paris Pact initiative and its “Paris-Moscow” process, and, in this regard, calls for full implementation of its resolution 1817 (2008);
“30. Calls for the continuation of the Paris Pact initiative in countering the production, trafficking and consumption of opium and heroin from Afghanistan and the elimination of poppy crops, drug laboratories and stores as well as the interception of drug convoys, underlines the importance of border management cooperation and welcomes the intensified cooperation of the relevant United Nations institutions with the OSCE and the Collective Security Treaty Organization in this regard;
“31. Reiterates the importance of the full, sequenced, timely and coordinated implementation of the National Priority Programme on Law and Justice for All, by all the relevant Afghan institutions and other actors in view of accelerating the establishment of a fair and transparent justice system, eliminating impunity and contributing to the affirmation of the rule of law throughout the country;
“32. Stresses in this context the importance of further progress in the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in Afghanistan, in order to improve the respect for the rule of law and human rights therein;
“33. Notes with strong concern the effects of widespread corruption on security, good governance, counter-narcotics efforts and economic development, and urges the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community, to vigorously lead the fight against corruption, and to enhance its efforts to establish a more effective, accountable and transparent administration;
“34. Encourages all Afghan institutions, including the executive and legislative branches, to work in a spirit of cooperation, calls on the Afghan Government to pursue continued legislative and public administration reform in order to ensure good governance, with full representation of all Afghan women and men, and accountability at both national and subnational levels, and stresses the need for further international efforts to provide technical assistance in this area;
“35. Calls for full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan, welcomes the growth in Afghan free media, but notes with concern the continued restrictions on freedom of media, and attacks against journalists, commends the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) for its courageous efforts to monitor respect for human rights in Afghanistan as well as to foster and protect these rights and to promote the emergence of a pluralistic civil society, and stresses the importance of full cooperation with the AIHRC by all relevant actors; and supports broad engagement across government agencies and civil society for the realization of the mutual commitments made, including the commitment to provide sufficient government financing for the AIHRC;
“36. Recognizes that despite progress achieved on gender equality, enhanced efforts are necessary to secure the rights of women and girls, strongly condemns continuing forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, in particular violence aimed at preventing girls from attending schools, stresses the importance of implementing Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010), and of ensuring that women fleeing domestic violence are able to find safe and secure refuge;
“37. Welcomes the Afghan Government’s commitment to strengthen the participation of women in all Afghan governance institutions, including elected and appointed bodies and the civil service, supports efforts to accelerate implementation of the National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan (NAPWA), to integrate its benchmarks into the National Priority Programmes and to develop a strategy to implement the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) law, including services to victims, recalls that the promotion and protection of women’s rights are an integral part of peace, reintegration and reconciliation, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to include in its reports to the Security Council relevant information on the process of integration of women into the political, economic and social life of Afghanistan;
“38. Welcomes the cooperation of the Afghan Government and UNAMA with the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) with the implementation of resolution 1904 (2009), including by providing relevant information for updating the Consolidated List, and by identifying individuals and entities participating in the financing or support of acts or activities of Al-Qaida and the Taliban using proceeds derived from illicit cultivation, production and trafficking of narcotic drugs and their precursors, and encourages the continuation of such cooperation;
“39. Calls for strengthening the process of regional economic cooperation, including measures to facilitate regional trade, to increase foreign investments and to develop infrastructure, noting Afghanistan’s historic role as a land bridge in Asia;
“40. Recognizes the importance of voluntary, safe, orderly return and sustainable reintegration of the remaining Afghan refugees for the stability of the country and the region, and calls for continued and enhanced international assistance in this regard;
“41. Affirms also the importance of voluntary, safe, orderly return and sustainable reintegration of the internally displaced persons;
“42. Requests that the Secretary-General reports to the Council every three months on developments in Afghanistan, and to include in his reports an evaluation of progress made against the benchmarks for measuring and tracking progress in the implementation of UNAMA’s mandate and priorities as set out in this resolution;
“43. Further requests that the Secretary-General conduct a comprehensive review of UNAMA’s mandated activities and the United Nations’ support in Afghanistan, including UNAMA’s presence throughout the country, in consultation with the Afghan Government and relevant international stakeholders, by the end of 2011, with the aim of strengthening national ownership and leadership consistent with the Kabul Process, taking into account the evolving nature of the international community’s presence and the role of ISAF, and including first experiences with the Transition (Inteqal), with a view to informing the Council’s review of UNAMA’s mandate in March 2012; and calls on all actors concerned to cooperate with UNAMA in this process;
“44. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”
Zie ook:
VN-veiligheidsraad verlengt UNAMA-hulpmissie Afghanistan met een jaar
dinsdag 11 november 2008
Afghanistan: UN extends presence with opening of new office in Baghlan
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)
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Verenigde Naties breiden aanwezigheid Afghanistan uit met kantoor in Baghlan
“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)
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Verenigde Naties breiden aanwezigheid Afghanistan uit met kantoor in Baghlan
zondag 26 oktober 2008
Afghan anti-corruption efforts receive financial boost with UN grants
Three Afghan civil society groups working to combat corruption in the fledgling democracy will be able to boost their activities to promote accountability and transparency thanks to grants being provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Integrated Approaches for Community Development, Integrity Watch Afghanistan, and Saba Media Organization will each receive grants of up to $50,000 to carry out activities in the areas of monitoring, awareness-raising and capacity development, media and access to information, and training on anti-corruption and ethics.
The grants are provided through UNDP’s Accountability and Transparency (ACT) Project’s Accountability and Transparency Grants Facility, which seeks to complement anti-corruption activities carried out by the Afghan public sector.
The Grants Facility was set up “to encourage the active involvement of civil society and media in the fight against corruption,” said Manoj Basnyat, UNDP Country Director for Afghanistan.
The ACT Project is working to facilitate broad public awareness and education initiatives on the complex issues of corruption and to engage more civil society actors and local think tanks in this process.
Among other things, it is designed to support the Government in developing a broader anti-corruption strategy, as well as raise awareness and educate civil servants on the scourge.
The Afghan Government has taken a number of steps to combat corruption, including becoming a State Party to the UN Convention against Corruption, adopting new anti-corruption legislation and establishing a new anti-corruption body.
At the same time, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, has noted that corruption must also be tackled “from the bottom up” with the people, Afghan civil society and the media having a crucial role in supporting Government efforts.
According to a recent survey by Integrity Watch Afghanistan, the average Afghan household pays an estimated $100 in petty bribes every year – this in a nation where around 70 per cent of the population survives on less than $1 per day.
(UN: New York, Oct 23 2008)
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Integrated Approaches for Community Development, Integrity Watch Afghanistan, and Saba Media Organization will each receive grants of up to $50,000 to carry out activities in the areas of monitoring, awareness-raising and capacity development, media and access to information, and training on anti-corruption and ethics.
The grants are provided through UNDP’s Accountability and Transparency (ACT) Project’s Accountability and Transparency Grants Facility, which seeks to complement anti-corruption activities carried out by the Afghan public sector.
The Grants Facility was set up “to encourage the active involvement of civil society and media in the fight against corruption,” said Manoj Basnyat, UNDP Country Director for Afghanistan.
The ACT Project is working to facilitate broad public awareness and education initiatives on the complex issues of corruption and to engage more civil society actors and local think tanks in this process.
Among other things, it is designed to support the Government in developing a broader anti-corruption strategy, as well as raise awareness and educate civil servants on the scourge.
The Afghan Government has taken a number of steps to combat corruption, including becoming a State Party to the UN Convention against Corruption, adopting new anti-corruption legislation and establishing a new anti-corruption body.
At the same time, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, has noted that corruption must also be tackled “from the bottom up” with the people, Afghan civil society and the media having a crucial role in supporting Government efforts.
According to a recent survey by Integrity Watch Afghanistan, the average Afghan household pays an estimated $100 in petty bribes every year – this in a nation where around 70 per cent of the population survives on less than $1 per day.
(UN: New York, Oct 23 2008)
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Gemiddeld Afghaans huishouden betaalt 100 dollar aan omkoopsommen, extra geld voor drie organisaties
vrijdag 24 oktober 2008
Top UN envoy deplores recent attacks against Afghan civilians
The top United Nations envoy to Afghanistan has condemned recent attacks against civilians in the violence-wracked nation, including a suicide bombing on Monday that killed five children in Kunduz, the murder of a number of passengers on a bus in Kandahar and the killing of a foreign aid worker in the capital, Kabul.
“I have stressed many times over the past months the need for proper protection of civilians during combat. With these incidents there was no combat,” Kai Eide, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said in a statement issued yesterday.
“The purpose of such attacks is to stoke fear among the wider population,” he noted. “I strongly condemn all such acts.”
The Special Representative said his thoughts, as well as those of all those working for the UN in Afghanistan, are with the families and friends of those who have been killed and of those that remain missing.
Gayle Williams, a 34-year-old dual British-South African national who worked for the Christian non-governmental organization (NGO) known as SERVE Afghanistan as a volunteer on projects assisting the disabled, was shot dead on Monday as she walked to work in Kabul.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke out against the killing as well as those of two local UN staff members in Somalia during the past week, and voiced his alarm at the growing number of attacks against humanitarian workers in both countries.
Also on Monday, five children were among those killed in a suicide car bomb attack in the northern province of Kunduz.
Meanwhile, Taliban militants seized a bus in the volatile southern province of Kandahar over the weekend and reportedly executed at least two dozen passengers, beheading some of them.
(UN: New York, Oct 22 2008)
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“I have stressed many times over the past months the need for proper protection of civilians during combat. With these incidents there was no combat,” Kai Eide, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said in a statement issued yesterday.
“The purpose of such attacks is to stoke fear among the wider population,” he noted. “I strongly condemn all such acts.”
The Special Representative said his thoughts, as well as those of all those working for the UN in Afghanistan, are with the families and friends of those who have been killed and of those that remain missing.
Gayle Williams, a 34-year-old dual British-South African national who worked for the Christian non-governmental organization (NGO) known as SERVE Afghanistan as a volunteer on projects assisting the disabled, was shot dead on Monday as she walked to work in Kabul.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke out against the killing as well as those of two local UN staff members in Somalia during the past week, and voiced his alarm at the growing number of attacks against humanitarian workers in both countries.
Also on Monday, five children were among those killed in a suicide car bomb attack in the northern province of Kunduz.
Meanwhile, Taliban militants seized a bus in the volatile southern province of Kandahar over the weekend and reportedly executed at least two dozen passengers, beheading some of them.
(UN: New York, Oct 22 2008)
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Kai Eide veroordeelt recente aanvallen tegen burgers 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)
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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)
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Aanvallen in Afghanistan op zijn hevigst volgens Eide van de UNAMA
maandag 13 oktober 2008
Afghanistan: Top UN envoy welcomes cabinet reshuffle
The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has welcomed the changes announced by President Hamid Karzai to his 26-member cabinet, stating that they reflect the priorities set by the Government and its people.
The changes announced yesterday pertain to five portfolios, namely the ministers of the interior, education, agriculture, refugees, and parliamentary affairs.
"This reshuffle demonstrates political determination, the importance of implementing more rigorously the agenda set and agreed upon in Paris in June, with a team that can take these issues forward -- particularly the strengthening of the Afghan police and agricultural production," Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement issued yesterday in Kabul.
As part of the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan, held in the French capital in June, the Government and the international community strengthened the partnership to secure a peaceful and stable nation.
The meeting resulted in, among other things, fresh pledges of resources for the country's rebuilding efforts, as well as the launch of the Government's five-year plan to reduce poverty and promote economic and social development, known as the Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS).
"I am fully committed to supporting this new Ministerial team and look forward to working with them over the coming weeks and months," Mr. Eide added.
(Bron: VN, 12 oktober 2008)
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Hamid Karzai gooit zijn Kabinet drastisch om
The changes announced yesterday pertain to five portfolios, namely the ministers of the interior, education, agriculture, refugees, and parliamentary affairs.
"This reshuffle demonstrates political determination, the importance of implementing more rigorously the agenda set and agreed upon in Paris in June, with a team that can take these issues forward -- particularly the strengthening of the Afghan police and agricultural production," Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement issued yesterday in Kabul.
As part of the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan, held in the French capital in June, the Government and the international community strengthened the partnership to secure a peaceful and stable nation.
The meeting resulted in, among other things, fresh pledges of resources for the country's rebuilding efforts, as well as the launch of the Government's five-year plan to reduce poverty and promote economic and social development, known as the Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS).
"I am fully committed to supporting this new Ministerial team and look forward to working with them over the coming weeks and months," Mr. Eide added.
(Bron: VN, 12 oktober 2008)
Zie ook
Hamid Karzai gooit zijn Kabinet drastisch om
donderdag 11 september 2008
More troops will boost Afghan efforts to take over country’s security – UN envoy
The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has welcomed a decision to expand the country's national army, calling it an important step as the Government works towards assuming responsibility for security across the strife-torn nation.
At its meeting [Wednesday] in Kabul, the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) - the body set up in 2006 to monitor implementation of the five-year blueprint for reconstruction known as the Afghanistan Compact - agreed to increase the strength of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to 134,000 personnel.
"This increase is a huge step towards ensuring the Afghan Government has the number of soldiers it needs and that it can gradually take over the responsibility for the security of the country," said Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and co-chair of the JCMB.
"We all know that ensuring security for all Afghans is of paramount importance," added Mr. Eide, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The Board, which consists of senior Afghan ministers and representatives of the international community, also endorsed a proposed Afghanistan Social Outreach Programme, which aims to empower local communities.
Reports were also presented on the status of preparations for elections and on the new anti-corruption body, the High Office of Oversight.
In addition, participants were briefed on the humanitarian and refugee situations, hearing renewed calls to support a $404 million appeal launched in July to help some 4.5 million Afghans who are struggling as a result of rising food prices, poor harvests and drought.
The Board also welcomed the proposal presented by the Afghan Government to set up a mechanism to support the implementation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), the five-year plan to reduce poverty and promote economic and social development that was unveiled at a Paris conference in June.
At the Paris conference, dozens of countries and international organizations pledged resources to help Afghanistan rebuild and advance peace, security and development.
"There is now a real sense of urgency to build on the commitments and progress that were made at the Paris conference. This is a testing period for us all, but we all remain committed to implementing the commitments made - such as improved aid effectiveness and a more intensive fight against corruption," Mr. Eide said.
At its meeting [Wednesday] in Kabul, the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) - the body set up in 2006 to monitor implementation of the five-year blueprint for reconstruction known as the Afghanistan Compact - agreed to increase the strength of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to 134,000 personnel.
"This increase is a huge step towards ensuring the Afghan Government has the number of soldiers it needs and that it can gradually take over the responsibility for the security of the country," said Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and co-chair of the JCMB.
"We all know that ensuring security for all Afghans is of paramount importance," added Mr. Eide, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The Board, which consists of senior Afghan ministers and representatives of the international community, also endorsed a proposed Afghanistan Social Outreach Programme, which aims to empower local communities.
Reports were also presented on the status of preparations for elections and on the new anti-corruption body, the High Office of Oversight.
In addition, participants were briefed on the humanitarian and refugee situations, hearing renewed calls to support a $404 million appeal launched in July to help some 4.5 million Afghans who are struggling as a result of rising food prices, poor harvests and drought.
The Board also welcomed the proposal presented by the Afghan Government to set up a mechanism to support the implementation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), the five-year plan to reduce poverty and promote economic and social development that was unveiled at a Paris conference in June.
At the Paris conference, dozens of countries and international organizations pledged resources to help Afghanistan rebuild and advance peace, security and development.
"There is now a real sense of urgency to build on the commitments and progress that were made at the Paris conference. This is a testing period for us all, but we all remain committed to implementing the commitments made - such as improved aid effectiveness and a more intensive fight against corruption," Mr. Eide said.
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.
woensdag 27 augustus 2008
Afghanistan: UN child rights official voices alarm at high civilian death toll
The United Nations envoy for children and armed conflict has strongly condemned the deaths of a large number of civilians, mostly children, as a result of recent military operations in Afghanistan.
Yesterday 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 Shindand district in Afghanistan's western Herat province.
"I am really alarmed by the number of casualties caused by this air strike and other similar military operations," the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Radhika Coomaraswamy, said in a statement. "Children are bearing the brunt of this conflict and also experiencing physical and psychological trauma."
Echoing the call made yesterday by Kai Eide, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Ms. Coomaraswamy reminded the international and Afghan military forces that "they must review their operational procedures to avoid such tragic events from reoccurring."
Ms. Coomaraswamy raised the issue of civilian casualties with the leadership of the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) and the United States-led Operation Enduring Freedom during a recent visit to Afghanistan, stressing to them the need to minimize collateral damage with clear directions and procedures.
"It is important to put in place measures to prevent the excesses, to have prompt investigations and where necessary to pay adequate compensation," she had stated at the end of that visit.
Yesterday 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 Shindand district in Afghanistan's western Herat province.
"I am really alarmed by the number of casualties caused by this air strike and other similar military operations," the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Radhika Coomaraswamy, said in a statement. "Children are bearing the brunt of this conflict and also experiencing physical and psychological trauma."
Echoing the call made yesterday by Kai Eide, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Ms. Coomaraswamy reminded the international and Afghan military forces that "they must review their operational procedures to avoid such tragic events from reoccurring."
Ms. Coomaraswamy raised the issue of civilian casualties with the leadership of the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) and the United States-led Operation Enduring Freedom during a recent visit to Afghanistan, stressing to them the need to minimize collateral damage with clear directions and procedures.
"It is important to put in place measures to prevent the excesses, to have prompt investigations and where necessary to pay adequate compensation," she had stated at the end of that visit.
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)
Two individuals convicted in 2006 for the rape released early from detention
The head of UNAMA's human rights unit has expressed deep concern that two individuals convicted in 2006 for the rape of a woman in Samangan province in northern Afghanistan have been released early from detention.
"This sends the wrong message to other perpetrators of violent crimes against women, that they will not be held accountable for their actions," said Norah Niland, adding that "there can be no peace in Afghanistan without justice."
Ms. Niland noted that the 11-year prison sentence against the perpetrators was upheld by the Court of Appeal and confirmed by the Afghan Supreme Court.
However, the two men were subsequently released from incarceration after serving "a fraction of their sentence" and are now back in the neighbourhood where the crime was perpetrated and where the victim and her family continue to live.
"While there appears to be conflicting reports on the circumstances of the release of these prisoners, whatever the circumstances, this is clearly an injustice against the victim, the victims' family and all Afghan women," Ms. Niland stated. "Such injustice can only promote a culture of impunity for violence perpetrated against women."
She welcomed the intention by the Afghan authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the release and urged them take all appropriate measures to ensure that justice is done and the rights of Afghan women are protected.
"This sends the wrong message to other perpetrators of violent crimes against women, that they will not be held accountable for their actions," said Norah Niland, adding that "there can be no peace in Afghanistan without justice."
Ms. Niland noted that the 11-year prison sentence against the perpetrators was upheld by the Court of Appeal and confirmed by the Afghan Supreme Court.
However, the two men were subsequently released from incarceration after serving "a fraction of their sentence" and are now back in the neighbourhood where the crime was perpetrated and where the victim and her family continue to live.
"While there appears to be conflicting reports on the circumstances of the release of these prisoners, whatever the circumstances, this is clearly an injustice against the victim, the victims' family and all Afghan women," Ms. Niland stated. "Such injustice can only promote a culture of impunity for violence perpetrated against women."
She welcomed the intention by the Afghan authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the release and urged them take all appropriate measures to ensure that justice is done and the rights of Afghan women are protected.
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.
dinsdag 29 juli 2008
Attack on UN food convoy blow for struggling Afghanistan
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned Monday the latest attack on a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy that was transporting vital aid for the country's most vulnerable, who are suffering amid drought and rising food prices.
Accoerding to a statement of the UN, a convoy of 49 trucks that were transporting WFP food aid from Kandahar to Herat was attacked last Thursday by unidentified gunmen in the western province of Farah.
Two trucks were torched, and eight trucks were stolen and have not been recovered so far.
More than 320 metric tons of food, enough for around 38,400 Afghans for one month, was looted in the attack.
“Such attacks dishonour the Afghan people and the generosity of the international community. They are unacceptable and must stop,” Aleem Siddique, spokesperson for the UNAMA, told reporters in Kabul.
“At this time of severe drought and rising food prices it is even more reprehensible that a humanitarian convoy would be attacked in this way,” he added.
Food insecurity
Earlier this month, the UN and the Afghan Government appealed for just over $400 million to feed 4.5 million people who are struggling as a result of rising food prices, poor harvests and drought.
Some 450,000 urban and rural households have been hit hard by the surge in the prices of staples such as wheat, which have increased by 50 to 100 per cent in some parts of the country.
Attacks
There were 12 armed attacks against vehicles carrying WFP food between January and June this year, resulting in the loss of some 466 tons of food, valued at over $300,000.
Last year saw more than 30 attacks against commercial vehicles or convoys carrying WFP food. In total, 870 tons of food, valued at $730,000, was lost.
Despite the most recent attack, WFP says it will continue food dispatches from southern Kandahar province to Herat in the west.
Accoerding to a statement of the UN, a convoy of 49 trucks that were transporting WFP food aid from Kandahar to Herat was attacked last Thursday by unidentified gunmen in the western province of Farah.
Two trucks were torched, and eight trucks were stolen and have not been recovered so far.
More than 320 metric tons of food, enough for around 38,400 Afghans for one month, was looted in the attack.
“Such attacks dishonour the Afghan people and the generosity of the international community. They are unacceptable and must stop,” Aleem Siddique, spokesperson for the UNAMA, told reporters in Kabul.
“At this time of severe drought and rising food prices it is even more reprehensible that a humanitarian convoy would be attacked in this way,” he added.
Food insecurity
Earlier this month, the UN and the Afghan Government appealed for just over $400 million to feed 4.5 million people who are struggling as a result of rising food prices, poor harvests and drought.
Some 450,000 urban and rural households have been hit hard by the surge in the prices of staples such as wheat, which have increased by 50 to 100 per cent in some parts of the country.
Attacks
There were 12 armed attacks against vehicles carrying WFP food between January and June this year, resulting in the loss of some 466 tons of food, valued at over $300,000.
Last year saw more than 30 attacks against commercial vehicles or convoys carrying WFP food. In total, 870 tons of food, valued at $730,000, was lost.
Despite the most recent attack, WFP says it will continue food dispatches from southern Kandahar province to Herat in the west.
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