By NNN-APP,
United Nations : Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is calling for additional security for UN staff, especially in Afghanistan and Pakistan, citing a “dramatically escalated threat” to the world body in the two countries.
Speaking to reporters after a closed door meeting of the Security Council held to discuss Wednesday’s attack on the UN Guest house in Kabul, he said that, not counting peacekeepers, 27 UN civilian personnel have lost their lives to violence so far this year, more than half of them in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The 15 member council issued a “presidential statement” unanimously condemning the attack by Taliban gunmen in the Afghan capital that killed five UN personnel and wounded nine.
The secretary general said that the UN was being increasingly targeted, “in this case precisely because of our support for the Afghan elections.
Questioned specifically about Pakistan, he said the UN needed to strengthen its security measures. “That is the subject which we have been continuously discussing with the President (Asif Ali) Zardari and other members.”
He noted that, not counting peacekeepers, 27 UN civilian personnel have lost their lives to violence so far this year, more than half of them in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In Afghanistan, Ban said, “The UN is a civilian operation. We’re working there to help Afghanistan’s people but our mission is not safe and [is] vulnerable. We need the full support of the Afghanistan Government and the international community.”
On Wednesday, both Ban and his Special Representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, pledged that the UN will continue its work in the country despite the attack on a guest house in Kabul, for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility.
Ban indicated that the UN is looking at the possibility of engaging even private security companies.
“We are exploring the feasibility of bringing in additional security units to guard UN facilities and will ask international community to step up its support,” he added.
In his briefing to the Security Council, Ban spoke about the heroism of the security officers of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) during the early morning attack.
For at least an hour, and perhaps more, they held off the attackers, fighting through the corridors of the building and from the rooftop, giving their colleagues time to escape, he said. Without their heroism, there could have been more casualties, victims.
He added that the UN is considering a number of immediate short-term measures, including the consolidation of UN staff in Kabul, as well as the feasibility of bringing in extra security units to guard UN facilities.
“We cannot do it alone. We need the support of the Member States,” said the Secretary General. ”We must realistically assess the situation and put in place more effective protections for our staff as they perform their crucial tasks.”
The Council, in a presidential statement, voiced support for the measures already taken by Ban to ensure staff security and said it looked forward to further detailed proposals by him.
It also commended the determination of the UN not to be deterred by the tragic incident and to carry on its mission in Afghanistan.
UN agencies in Afghanistan met Thursday to review security for their staff in the wake of the attack, which occurred just days ahead of the presidential run off scheduled for Nov. 7.
A number of recommendations for immediate actions have gone forward, and further discussion of longer term measures will continue in the coming days, UN spokesperson Michele Montas said at a press briefing in New York.
Asked whether the elections will be postponed, Ms. Montas said that was not planned, adding that the UN is determined to continue with its support to the elections.
Earlier on Friday, Ban stressed the need for a strengthened and unified security management system, as he presented his budget proposals for the Organization for the biennium 2010 2011.
The proposals, he said, will enable the UN to strengthen security for its staff, their dependents and UN premises.
He urged Member States to consider the proposals favourably, saying, “After all, our people are your people.”
Ban will take his request for strengthened security measures to the full membership of the UN when he briefs the Assembly tomorrow. “I will ask for expedited action for our security measures, so that we can meet the dramatically escalated threat to UN staff, now widely considered to be a “soft target”, as well as provide support for victims and their families, he stated.