UN to evacuate staff from Afghanistan

Thu Nov 5 2009 12:59:13

The UN is set to evacuate hundreds of its staff from Afghanistan due to deteriorating security.

Spokesman Aleem Siddique said the UN will relocate about 600 of its roughly 1,100 international staff, with some being moved to safer sites within Afghanistan and the rest withdrawn from the country temporarily.

He added: "We remain committed to ensuring that all of our programmes and activities continue.

"But obviously following the events of last week, we really do need to have a look at how we can ensure that our staff can continue those programmes and activities, but at the same time we can protect their safety.

"The United Nations has been in Afghanistan for half a century and we are not about to leave now. The Afghan people want us to stay."

The move comes a week after five UN foreign staff were killed by militants in Kabul and is a blow for US President Barack Obama, who wants to see an influx of civilian assistance alongside more troops in a counter-insurgency strategy.

The United Nations mission played a critical role in organising elections in the country this year, and its agencies such as Unicef run health, education and other programmes.

In last week's attack, Taliban suicide bombers hiding explosive vests under police uniforms entered a guest-house used by UN staff, killing five foreigners and prompting a security review by many of the international agencies in the country.

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