Afghan

Special Representative Staffan de Mistura addresses press in Kabul [File Photo]

Afghanistan: UN envoy advises release of international funds for elections

17 April 2010
The highest United Nations official in Afghanistan today recommended the release of international assistance for parliamentary elections to be held later this year, following a meeting with President Hamid Karzai and other Afghan officials in which new senior election commission members were appointed and a question about women candidates clarified.
Special Representative Staffan de Mistura addresses press in Kabul [File Photo]

Top UN envoy to Afghanistan urges greater efforts to avoid civilian casualties

15 April 2010
The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan today voiced his concern over a “disturbing trend” of civilian casualties caused by recent international military operations in the country, urging greater efforts to protect non-combatants.
A de-miner at work clearing a minefield in Parwan province, Afghanistan

UN-backed body deplores deadly attack on de-miners in Afghanistan

12 April 2010
A United Nations-backed umbrella body seeking to free Afghanistan from the dangers of unexploded mines today called on all sides to support “this important humanitarian work” after four de-miners were killed and 17 others injured in an attack yesterday.
Heroin seized by law officials [File Photo]

Two UN agencies team up to keep Afghan villagers away from heroin production

12 April 2010
United Nations agencies have distributed 60 metric tons of food to 700 villagers in western Afghanistan in a programme designed to rehabilitate an irrigation canal that is the lifeline of Khosan district and stop locals from working in the heroin industry.
Voting in the 20 August, 2009 elections in Afghanistan (file photo)

Recent rhetoric unhelpful for Afghanistan’s relations with its partners – Ban

8 April 2010
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he continues to expect full cooperation between Afghanistan and its global partners, adding that recent comments critical of the international community by the country’s President Hamid Karzai are unhelpful.
Special Representative for Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura

UN envoy to Afghanistan deplores deadly attack against German aid agency

31 March 2010
The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has condemned an attack by gunmen against a German aid agency in the east of the country that killed a local engineer and severely injured an international aid worker.
Human rights abuses exacerbate poverty in Afghanistan

Human rights abuses exacerbating poverty in Afghanistan, UN report finds

30 March 2010
The United Nations human rights office is urging that Afghanistan’s poor be at the centre of decision-making processes that affect their lives, after a new report found that rights abuses are exacerbating poverty in the country.

More than 110,000 explosive devices destroyed in Afghanistan this year – UN

29 March 2010
The United Nations-supported mine action centre in Afghanistan destroyed nearly 112,000 different types of explosives in the first two months of this year and could do much more with additional funding, one of its top officials said today ahead of next week’s International Mine Action Day.
Press conference by Norah Niland of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Afghanistan

Top UN human rights official in Afghanistan calls for repeal of amnesty law

25 March 2010
The United Nations human rights office in Afghanistan today called for the repeal of a controversial amnesty law in the Asian country, saying that it green-lights impunity for serious crimes and continued rights violations.

Security Council extends mandate of UN mission in Afghanistan by one year

22 March 2010
The Security Council voted today to extend the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another 12 months and to expand its mandate to include support for the parliamentary elections scheduled for September.