United Nations staff in Afghanistan temporarily relocate

Islamabad (Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan), 13 September 2001 - Due to circumstances prevailing internationally, the United Nations system in Afghanistan has temporarily relocated seventy-five international staff working in Afghanistan. United Nations international staff were present in six locations of the country: Kabul, Jalalabad, Mazar, Kandahar, Herat, and Faizabad.
As of 13 September, all United Nations international staff had returned to Islamabad. Several hundred staff of non-governmental organisations have also left Afghanistan, with some NGOs leaving, while some have reduced staffing levels.

Authorities in Afghanistan have co-operated in issuing the necessary flight clearances. United Nations officials have held meetings with Taliban authorities in Islamabad and in Afghanistan during the course of the relocation.

The deepening humanitarian crisis, with conflict affecting 17 out of 32 provinces of the country, is continuing to gravely affect Afghan civilians. There are currently believed to be almost six million vulnerable people inside Afghanistan, which is approximately 25% of the total population. The current caseload of internally displaced persons is estimated at 900,000 and is expected to reach one million before the end of the year. Millions more are severely affected in their villages, too poor or unable to move. If, as seems likely, the situation continues to deteriorate in the coming year, Afghanistan is set to become the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

Due to the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the United Nations plans to continue to provide as much life saving assistance to the civilian population as possible. On several previous occasions, during the withdrawal of United Nations international staff from Afghanistan, essential programmes were able to continue due to the efforts of hundreds of dedicated Afghan staff. In the absence of international staff, they will undertake their activities insofar as the situation permits and security prevails.

For further information, please call Stephanie Bunker, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan
Telephone: 92 51 2211451 x 415; mobile 92 320 4261325