Security concerns force 600 UN workers out of Afghanistan

by Mritunjay | November 5, 2009 at 05:50 am

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After the recent spate of attacks and heightened security concerns the UN announced its decision to temporarily relocate 600 members of its international foreign staff based in Afghanistan. The international body also said that the personnel would return to work once the security of the areas accommodating the staff is beefed up.

The body also said that the humanitarian work like aid distribution would not have a setback in light of the UN decision as it is handled by the local staff members. In the recent attack on Bekhtar guesthouse in the Shar-i-Naw district last Wednesday, which was deadliest attack on UN since fall of Taliban regime in 2001, five UN workers and three Afghans were killed.

In a Kabul news conference on Thursday, Kai Eide, the head of the UN's Afghan mission, said some of the staff - mostly "non-frontline" personnel - would be moved within the country, others outside.
"We are not talking about pulling out and we are not talking about evacuation," the Norwegian diplomat said.

The temporary relocation of staff was likely to take three to four weeks, the UN said.

The UN had also halted a long-term development work this Monday, citing security concerns, in north-western Pakistan bordering Afghanistan which is viewed as a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

Among the 5600-strong workforce in Afghanistan 1300 are international workers and are located in different Afghan cities.

Mr Eide told the BBC later: "It's quite clear that the security situation for our staff has become much more complex over the last year."
But he said the Taliban would not succeed in driving the UN out of Afghanistan, in the same way it was forced from Iraq six years ago after a suicide truck bombing on a UN compound killed a top envoy and more than 20 others.

"We will certainly continue our work, but we are taking the measures in order to do so and we are enhancing our security," said Mr Eide.

The security scenario has taken a severe beating recently despite the presence of more than 100,000 Nato-led troops, including about 68,000 Americans. While the US President Barack Obama is currently deliberating a request from the US commander in Afghanistan for another 40,000 troops the recent spate of attacks and UN "temporary" retreat makes the issue more complex.

Amidst calls for radical changes in the functioning of Afghan government and wiping out corruption the international community keeps a close watch on the newly re-constituted Afghan government under President Karzai.

“I do believe it’s understood that serious reforms are needed, and I believe that reforms will come as a new government is formed,”

Mr. Eide said.“It’s up to the president to compose his government. We have seen new competent ministers coming in, and it has had an impact,” he continued. “What we have said to President Karzai is, ‘You have some competent people, and you need more of them.’ ”

The UN had last month fired its No. 2 official in Afghanistan, Peter W. Galbraith, an U.S. diplomat, after he wrote a scathing letter which accused Mr. Eide of concealing election fraud that benefited President Karzai. UN General Secretary Ban ki-Moon had pulled out Mr. Galbraith while reaffirming his belief in him.

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albertacowpoke

at 09:03 on November 5th, 2009

Thanks for this important story. Without security the UN becomes impotent. This is not good news. The insurgents have won this round.

Mritunjay

at 09:16 on November 5th, 2009

Yes its very unfortunate and disturbing development (if it qualifies as a "development").

Roy C

at 09:14 on November 5th, 2009

Yeah, maybe we should send the peaceniks over there to experience the reality of evil first hand. They would discover that sticking daisies in the rifles of the Taliban would not get young women decent treatment and schooling, let alone end their war against the democratic wishes of the people in and around Afghanistan.

Mritunjay

at 09:18 on November 5th, 2009

Religious fanaticism and etremism lead to such human disasters. Common people are the ones who finally take the burnt of all such political turmoils.

While the players play political and power games, the common man dies on the streets of the country.

Amy Judd

at 09:29 on November 5th, 2009

I'm glad that aid distribution won't cease during this time though.

Mritunjay

at 09:58 on November 5th, 2009

Yes..That's the only positive news in the piece though I doubt that if in case the unstability continues to grow would such aid programs help or even continue.

Roy C

at 09:30 on November 5th, 2009

Yes, I agree, but the common people suffer from their own lack of development in self-control and objective reasoning skills and become fodder for that demagogue who "solves" their problem for them.

The Taliban are complete throwbacks to an era even before Mohammed.

Mritunjay

at 10:03 on November 5th, 2009

Agreed Roy. Now the question at hand is human existence rather than anything else. scores of people have been killed in recent weeks..aid workers are fleeing the nation where economic infrastructure has alsmost ceased to exist.

I am worried that if things carry on like this hunger and voilence would continue to grow and make the situation even worse-----Perfect hunting ground for terrorist organizations to recruit. Who can forget the child soldiers from Africa who would kill for just food? Recent drop in the average age of Taliban fighters also shows same patterns..they are recruiting children and youth to be fighters and suicide bombers.

Roy C

at 10:11 on November 5th, 2009

I blame our religious leaders and our intellectual class for resisting change that is both necessary and good and/or proposing pseudo-solutions that cause more problems than they solve.

So, what happens? We, in the West and developed nations, lack the energy, time and clarity of vision to be a model for change, and can't help anyone as we should be able as a result.

Good points you have made.