UN lifts suspension in Southwestern Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD - A United Nations team today flew to Kandahar, southwestern Afghanistan, to announce the lifting of its two-month suspension of activities in the region. The UN plans to return international staff to the city and to reopen its offices there next week.
The move follows the signature in Kabul on 13 May of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the first agreement ever to be signed by both the UN and the Taliban.

In Kandahar today, both parties agreed to actively demonstrate their commitment to the 23-point agreement. By restarting programmes such as mine action, drug control, rural and urban rehabilitation, and refugee return, the UN is clearly indicating its own support.

The agreement clears up a number of issues and will strengthen the UN's capacity to provide assistance to people who need it.

The MoU lays out a code of conduct governing day-to-day UN activities in Taliban-controlled areas. This includes an acknowledgement that UN premises are inviolable. International staff are immune from arrest and detention; national staff cannot be prosecuted for anything said or done in the course of their official duty. All staff members are free from harassment or interference in their work and movements. The UN has the right to employ staff "without distinction based on race, gender, religion or nationality in accordance with its policies and criteria and with due respect to Islamic values and traditions", provided they do not take part in any political activities, and respect local customs.

The agreement also outlines activities designed to enhance female access to health and education, and establishes a joint UN/Taliban consultative committee that will meet on a monthly basis.

For more information contact Sarah Russell in Islamabad on 211 461 or 0351 261 325.