Afghanistan: UN staff temporarily relocated

The United Nations announced today that it would temporarily relocate scores of its aid workers from Afghanistan "due to circumstances prevailing internationally."

The relocation of up to 80 international staff is expected to be completed on 13 September, according to a statement released by the Islamabad-based Office of the UN Coordinator in Afghanistan.

UN international staff had been stationed in six parts of Afghanistan: Kabul, Jalalabad, Mazar, Kandahar, Herat, and Faizabad.

Authorities in Afghanistan have cooperated in issuing the necessary flight clearances, the Coordinator's Office said.

"United Nations humanitarian agencies hope that activities can continue as normal so that critical pre-winter relief work can be completed," the statement said.