United Nations Radio

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The UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, is relocating some of its staff in order to put in place additional security measures, following the deadly terrorist attack in Kabul last week. The head of the mission, Kai Eide, stressed that this is a temporary measure.

N-EIDE: We are not talking about pulling out, and we are not talking about evacuation. We are simply doing what we have to do following the tragic event of last week to take care of our workers in a difficult moment, while ensuring that our operations in Afghanistan can continue.

PRES: UN Radio's Patrick Maigua found out more from UNAMA's spokesperson Aleem Siddique, who says the mission has been assured by the Afghan authorities that they will step up security for UN staff, but they are also putting in place their own measures.

Siddique: Following the tragic events of last week, where we lost five of our colleagues and nine others were injured, the United Nations in Afghanistan is obviously taking a very close look at the security arrangements for all of our staff here in Afghanistan, both national and international. The welfare of those staff must come first. And as part of that we're looking at increasing security measures. We will be looking at relocating some of our staff within the country, and also some outside the country. Once those security measures are in place, we hope to be able to bring those staff back to their original locations.

Maigua: How will this impact on the operations of UN in Afghanistan, especially when it comes to provision of humanitarian assistance?

Siddique: Ensuring continued humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan is a key priority for the United Nations. So we will be focusing on relocating those non-essential staff, who are not necessary for the continuation of the humanitarian programmes and the activities of the UN agencies. So fundamentally we're looking at relocating administration personnel, finance personnel, human resources personnel, but those staff that are critical will remain in country. And in the long-term we will look at bringing those non-essential staff back swiftly over the next 3 to 4 weeks once the security measures can be put in place to ensure their safe operation here in Afghanistan.

Maigua: Well, some people may see [it] as though the UN is beginning to give up on Afghanistan.

Siddique: The United Nations has no plans of giving up on Afghanistan. If you speak to anybody on the ground here in Afghanistan, you will see that the support for the United Nations remains firm, remains strong. The Afghan people want us here. There is a need for us here and we will continue to remain here and we will not allow threats and intimidation to deter us from our mission here in this country when the needs are so great.

PRES: Aleem Siddique is the Spokesperson for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

Producer: Bissera Kostova
duration: 3'05"