United Nations Afghanistan deplores killing in Taloqan

Islamabad (Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan), 25 May 2000 -- The Taliban bombardment of Taloqan on the night of 20 May in the northeastern Afghan province of Takhar has devastated the family of field worker Bashir Ahmad of the United Nations supported Comprehensive Disabled Afghans Programme, part of the UNDP programme in Afghanistan, implemented by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan in Takhar.
A bomb landed directly on Ahmad's house, in the room in which his children were sleeping, killing him and six of his seven children. Although severely injured, Mrs. Ahmad and her sole surviving child, a six-year-old daughter, are recovering in Taloqan provincial hospital.

Born in 1960, Bashir Ahmad devoted much of his life to helping others. Before joining the Comprehensive Disabled Afghans Programme in July of 1999, Mr. Ahmad worked as a rural engineer for Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, and before that as a field supervisor for Afghan Aid. As a mid-level rehabilitation worker with CDAP, Ahmad identified the disabled in the community and served as their first point of contact. Managing a caseload of about 30 disabled people, Ahmad engaged in home visits and arranged services for the disabled, including physiotherapy and job training. He also was active in training families in the care of their disabled members.

"This is not the first time that indiscriminate aerial bombardment or rocketing has killed Afghan civilians. Inflicting such suffering is unconscionable," said United Nations Co-ordinator Erick de Mul. The United Nations has repeatedly called for all military and political authorities in Afghanistan to respect the rights of non-combatants to be treated as civilians and to refrain from military activity that targets or results in avoidable harm and suffering of civilians. In August 1999, The Secretary General urged the parties to the Afghan conflict to immediately end the conflict and take measures to ensure the protection of civilians and to ensure the safe and free movement of relief workers.

Security Council Resolution 1265 (1999) emphasises the need for combatants to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel as well as personnel of international humanitarian organisations. The resolution also condemns attacks and the use of force against United Nations and associated personnel, as well as personnel of international humanitarian organisations, and affirms the need to hold accountable those who commit such acts.