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KABUL, August 13 /Standard Newswire/ -- The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan today led calls for increased efforts to protect the people of Afghanistan as conflict and insecurity continues to affect thousands of people across the country.
On the first day of a workshop focused on the "Protection of Civilians in Afghanistan", the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Tom Koenigs said: "The safety of the Afghan people must be our first priority. It is civilians who continue to bear the brunt of insecurity and conflict in Afghanistan. We all have a responsibility to redouble our efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of Afghanistan's people."
The current situation in Afghanistan is both complex and challenging: the number of civilians dying from conflict-related violence doubled from 2005 to 2006. During that period alone, the resurgence of armed conflict in southern Afghanistan resulted in 80,000 newly displaced people. Lack of security has rendered much of the southern region inaccessible for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and largely prohibits the access needed for the investigation of deaths and injuries of those caught up in the conflict.
The three-day workshop starting today will bring together over 80 representatives from all sectors in the country, including representatives from the government of Afghanistan; the Afghan armed forces and police; the International Security Assistance Force; key donors; the United Nations; the International Committee of the Red Cross; national and international non-governmental organizations; academic institutions and Afghan civil society, including community and religious leaders.
"We want the recommendations emerging from this workshop to lay the foundation for developing a strong and effective protection framework for civilians across Afghanistan," added Koenigs. "We want to maintain the momentum of this workshop, and gear ourselves to adapt in the best possible way to ensure conflict prevention and the safety of people."
