Finding a balance between respecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty and maintaining a continued United Nations presence will be essential to ensuring the success of the transition to full Afghan ownership of efforts to better governance, security and social and economic development, the top UN official to the country says.

With its 30 agencies, funds and programmes providing aid in every one of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, the United Nations stands ready to support the country’s assumption of the lead role in all aspects of governance, development, and efforts to achieve peace, a senior UN envoy said today.

Ordinary Afghans continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict in the country, says a United Nations report released today that points to a 15 per cent rise in the death toll last year and urges greater efforts by all parties to protect civilians.