Afghanistan

An elderly woman being held at a female detention centre in northern Afghanistan (2010).
UNAMA/Eric Kanalstein

Tuesday's Daily Brief: Afghanistan ‘direct talks’ needed, Nicaragua rights crisis, Bangladesh monsoon and Libya detainees latest, Dorian update

10 September 2019
Humanitarian Aid

A recap of Monday’s top stories: All Afghans must participate in peace process; Nicaragua’s rights crisis can be resolved says Bachelet; Rohingya refugees impacted by monsoon rains; Libya detainees to be evacuated to Rwanda; and multiple donors show solidarity with the Bahamas.

The 100th anniversary of Afghanistan’s Independence was celebrated in Kandahar and across the country in August 2019 with hundreds of people taking to the streets with Afghan flags.
UNAMA/Mujeeb Rahman

‘Whole spectrum of Afghan society’ must get behind peace talks, UN envoy tells Security Council

10 September 2019
Peace and Security

The long Afghan conflict can only be resolved by “direct talks” between its own people, the chief of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that they must be inclusive and represent “the whole spectrum of Afghan society”.

Nineteen-year-old Ruma travels about 30 mins by bus to teach the children at Kutupalong-Balukhali mega-camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. (June 2019)
© UNICEF/Patrick Brown

Monday’s Daily Brief: World Humanitarian Day, Afghan massacre aftermath, Venezuelans in Brazil, Yemen war update, and reconciliation in Mali

19 August 2019
Humanitarian Aid

Our main stories today: Women celebrated on World Humanitarian Day; Afghanistan bloodshed mars 100 years of independence; Brazil’s ‘exemplary’ response to Venezuelans; UN urges Yemen’s warring parties to down weapons; and UN expert calls for Mali reconciliation efforts.

The scene at the Shahr-e-Dubai Wedding Hall in West Kabul where approximately 1,000 people were gathered the night before for a wedding ceremony, when a suicide attacker detonated explosives, killing and injuring scores of civilians, among them women and children.
UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

News in Brief 19 August 2019

19 August 2019
News in Brief
  • Afghanistan bloodshed mars 100 years of independence
  • World Humanitarian Day honours life-saving contribution of women aid workers
  • UN renews call to Yemen’s warring parties to down weapons
Audio -
3'29"
The scene at the Shahr-e-Dubai Wedding Hall in West Kabul on 18 August 2019, where approximately 1,000 people were gathered the night before for a wedding ceremony, when a suicide attacker detonated explosives, killing and injuring scores of civilians.
UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

Afghanistan bloodshed mars 100 years of independence

19 August 2019
Peace and Security

Afghanistan is at a “crucial moment” in its history as it marks 100 years of independence, the head of the UN Mission there said on Monday, following a series of terror attacks in recent days.

Gardez city, Paktia province, Afghanistan.
UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

News in Brief 14 August 2019

14 August 2019
News in Brief
  • Afghanistan: grave concern at reports 11 civilians killed by pro-Government forces
  • UN panel urges Paraguay to probe poisonings, contamination from agrochemical sprays
  • Disarmament discussions must make urgent progress, says UN’s new top diplomat in Geneva
Audio -
3'12"
Kabul, the centre of Afghanistan's political and social life (file photo).
Photo: UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

UN Afghan Mission ‘outraged’ by deadly Taliban attack in Kabul, as hardline group threatens election violence

7 August 2019
Peace and Security

The UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed outrage at a Taliban attack in Kabul, that led to  “scores” of civilians casualties on Wednesday. In a Tweet, the Mission said that such “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks in heavily populated civilian areas must stop”.

A mother from Luhansk feeding her baby while taking part in the workshop “Breastfeeding and infant feeding of children in emergencies” organized by UNICEF in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2015.
UNICEF/Zavalnyuk

News in Brief 01 August 2019

1 August 2019
News in Brief
  • Security Council condemns ‘heinous and cowardly’ Afghanistan killings
  • Acting deputy head of Palestine refugee agency, amid misconduct allegations
  • Most infants missing out on breastfeeding: UNICEF
Audio -
2'20"
A funeral takes place for a Tolo news agency journalist killed in an attack on 5 September 2018 outside a sports centre in Kabul, Afghanistan.
UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

‘Answer the call of Afghans’ to reduce impact of conflict, UN urges all parties amid increase in civilian airstrike deaths

30 July 2019
Peace and Security

The conflict in Afghanistan continues to be devastating for civilians, with the latest United Nations update released on Tuesday showing that the number of civilians killed by aerial operations increased in the first half of 2019, even as overall civilian casualties declined. 

Civilians in Gardez city, Paktia Province, Afghanistan.
UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

Voices of Afghan women ‘must be heard at the table in the peace process and beyond’ UN deputy chief tells Security Council

26 July 2019
Peace and Security

Afghan women have “paid a high price” during their country’s nearly four decades of conflict, the United Nations deputy chief said on Friday, addressing the Security Council a day after Kabul had been hit with a fresh round of “horrific” bomb attacks.