UN humanitarian chief meets elders in Kunar, Afghanistan

(New York, 28 June 2008): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes today met with tribal elders from conflict-affected areas in Kunar Province in Afghanistan and with the Kunar Province Governor.

The elders shared their concerns about being caught in the middle in struggles between insurgent anti-government forces and international forces. They referred to civilian casualties from both international forces and Anti-Government Elements, home searches by international forces, and arrests and detentions without charge.

Mr. Holmes also met with the Governor of Kunar Province and seven members of the Provincial Council, of whom three were women. They stressed the importance of the international forces in helping maintain order in the province, and told Mr. Holmes that they would like to see more aid agencies working in the area. They also noted some of the progress in development being made in the province. The Governor expressed concern about the lack of international assistance in the province, especially given the needs of returning refugees. He urged Mr. Holmes to find whatever resources he could to encourage UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to step up their operations in the area.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Holmes visited the provincial hospital of Kunar, which is being run on behalf of the Government by the NGO Aide Médicale Internationale (AMI), which has been in the country since 1980. The staff informed him that a rocket had landed in the compound last week. While at the facility, the ERC also saw some eight wounded patients, including children. Hospital staff also noted their concern about the population of the area being caught in the middle of fighting between anti-government and international forces. Mr. Holmes also visited the NGO Mission d'Aide au Développement des Economies Rurales en Afghanistan (MADERA), which was formed in 1988. Staff briefed on their activities, which include agricultural assistance, food security activities, and reforestation, and highlighted the need for education, reforestation, and flood protection.

The ERC returned to Kabul today. He is traveling on the mission with Elizabeth Rasmussen, Executive Director of Norwegian Refugee Council, who is also representing members of an NGO consortium, the International Council of Voluntary Associations (ICVA). He is on a four-day visit to Afghanistan to meet a variety of actors, including Afghan civilians such as returnees, those affected by the conflict, and those suffering from the global food crisis, Afghan officials, the humanitarian community, Afghan and international military forces, and donors.

The security situation has made it difficult for humanitarian agencies to adequately assist those in need in parts of the country, and Mr. Holmes is raising the issues of humanitarian access and protection of civilians when he meets with senior Afghan government officials and representatives from both the Afghan military and those from the multi-national forces deployed in the country.

'I have been honored by the warm welcome extended by all the Afghans I have met so far,' Mr. Holmes said. 'Seeing firsthand their problems-as well as their progress-has underscored the importance of improving the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need,' he added.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; John Nyaga, OCHA-NY, + 1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.