The United Nations: Afghan staff from the United Nations increasingly became the target of harassment and intimidation since the ruling Taliban last month, the United Nations Special Messenger in Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said on Thursday.
Lyons told the Security Council that the United Nations was mostly respected, although there were several exceptions.
“We …
is increasingly worried about the more incidents of harassment and intimidation against our national staff.
We will continue to do everything possible to support our staff and keep them from danger,” said Lyons.
Internal UN Security Documents seen by Reuters on August 25 described dozens of incidents including veiled threats, looting of the UN office and staff physical harassment since August 10, shortly before the Taliban swept power.
“The United Nations cannot do work – work is very important for Afghans – if the personnel experience intimidation, fear of their lives, and cannot move freely,” Lyons said on Thursday.
While Islamic guerrillas tried to convince Afghanistan and Western forces that they would respect people’s rights, retaliation reports have damaged confidence.
“We are angry at reports that Taliban members have been involved in retaliation against UN staff throughout the country.
This is unacceptable,” said Senior US Jeffrey Delaurentis to the Security Council.
He called the Taliban to honor the independence and neutrality of the United Nations.
He also said the United States had heard reports that several UN women’s staff and female staff of US help partners had been banned from coming to the office or asked to enter their workplace with a male companion.
“To call the ‘outrageous’ incident this will underestimate.
All UN staff members must be able to do their work without an undue burden and without discrimination about who they are,” Delaurentis said.