Afghan

Young shepherds in northern Afghanistan

Greater efforts needed to protect health of Afghans, says senior UN official

26 April 2010
A senior United Nations official today called for greater efforts to assist Afghans, who remain extremely vulnerable to a wide range of health challenges associated with natural disasters, conflict and the lack of coverage of health services.
The guest house in Kabul where UN staff stayed, ablaze after it was attacked on 28 October 2009

Ban calls for Afghan probe into possible killing of UN staffer by friendly fire

26 April 2010
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the Afghan authorities to probe last October’s attack on a United Nations guesthouse in Kabul after a board of inquiry suggested that a UN staffer may have been killed by Afghan security forces who may have mistaken him for an insurgent.
Women at work in road construction in Samangan, northern Afghanistan

UN aid efforts under way in quake-hit northern Afghanistan

20 April 2010
The United Nations humanitarian wing is coordinating emergency aid and assessing the damage in northern Afghanistan following a 5.3-magnitude earthquake that reportedly killed at least seven people and injured dozens of others.
SRSG Staffan de Mistura addresses press conference on up-coming Afghan Parliamentary elections and other matters

Next Afghan elections must show improvement over previous polls – UN envoy

19 April 2010
The upcoming parliamentary elections in Afghanistan must be an improvement over last year’s presidential polls, the top United Nations envoy there told the new head of the country’s national electoral body, urging that the process be as transparent as possible.
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.