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U.N. removes up to 600 workers from Afghanistan
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A U.N. staffer passes by a sign for a bunker at the headquarters of the
U.N. mission in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, November 5, 2009.
Kabul, Afghanistan - In an effort to revamp security measures for its workers in Afghanistan, the United Nations on Thursday announced that it will be removing and relocating 600 foreign workers from the country until the improved security arrangements are completed. Presently the locations in which the workers live and work have little or no security.
Although some of the 600 will be completely pulled out during the security upgrade project, other will be relocated to safer areas within Afghanistan.
A statement from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said, “Effective immediately, the United Nations is taking additional steps to reduce risks to its national and international staff serving in Afghanistan. This is in light of the 28 October attack against UN staff in Kabul as well as further ongoing threats.” In addition, it stated, “Although details of the new measures can not be made public, it is expected that they will involve short-term relocations for some staff while additional security is being put in place.”
The October 28 attack in Kabul against UN personnel killed a total of eight people, three Afghans and five UN workers.
The agency did not state how long it would take to complete the expected the security upgrades. According to the UNAMA, disruptions to aid and assistance in the country will be kept to a minimum during this period. It also reinforced the fact that this evacuation was temporary until the new security measures are in place, and that the UN is committed to staying in Afghanistan to help the people of the country.
Approximately 1,100 of the total 6,000 UN personnel in Afghanistan are from other countries.
Kai Eide, the chief of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, stated to the BBC, “It's quite clear that the security situation for our staff has become much more complex over the last year.” He further said, “We will certainly continue our work, but we are taking the measures in order to do so and we are enhancing our security.”
Copyright © 2009 by Raymond Gellner
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