The top United Nations development official, who has been just named by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to lead the early recovery effort in Afghanistan, pledged today to take quick action in responding to the challenges facing the country.
Reacting to reports of innocent civilians being killed in Afghanistan, a United Nations human rights expert has called for the investigation of these crimes and the prosecution of those responsible.
Lakhdar Brahimi, the chief United Nations envoy for Afghanistan, said today that preparations for a meeting on the country's future were advancing but the timing and venue remained under discussion.
The United Nations food agency today said that despite numerous obstacles, it had succeeded in reaching a monthly food aid target of 52,000 metric tonnes - enough supplies to feed the 6 million hungry people of Afghanistan devastated by war and drought.
A senior United Nations humanitarian official today expressed cautious optimism about the Organization's ability to distribute relief supplies in Afghanistan, where rapidly evolving conditions seem to favour the aid effort while insecurity remains a pressing concern.
As the United Nations special envoy for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, continued consultations at UN Headquarters in New York, his deputy said in Pakistan today that he was preparing to visit Kabul and would invite the United Front to participate in a meeting of various Afghan groups.
Security conditions in Afghanistan have improved enough for the United Nations to begin sending aid workers back into the country to bolster the ongoing relief effort, UN officials in Islamabad said today.
Utilizing a new supply route, the United Nations today dispatched the first barge load of relief supplies destined for the beleaguered people of Afghanistan through the Termez River crossing in Uzbekistan.
As the United Nations Security Council met in New York today to approve a plan for a political solution in Afghanistan, senior UN officials were preparing to travel to Kabul when security conditions permitted, a UN spokesman said in Pakistan.
Responding to the rapid pace of developments in Afghanistan, particularly in Kabul, the Security Council today endorsed a United Nations plan for a political solution to the situation in the country.
