Afghan staff of the United Nations (UN) are being increasingly subjected to harassment and intimidation since Taliban took control of the country last month, UN special envoy for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons, said.
“We are … more and more worried about the increasing number of cases of harassment and intimidation of domestic staff. We can support staff and prevent them from being harmed. We will continue to do as much as we can, “said Lions.
UN internal security documents seen by Reuters on August 25 include veiled threats, looting of UN offices, and physical abuse of staff since August 10, just before the Taliban came to power. Explained dozens of cases.
“The United Nations cannot do its job, a job that is very important to the people of Afghanistan, if its staff are threatened, afraid of their lives and unable to move freely,” Lions said Thursday. rice field.
Islamic extremists have sought to reassure Afghanistan and Western forces to respect people’s rights, but reports of retaliation have hurt confidence.
“We are outraged by reports that Taliban members have engaged in retaliation against UN personnel across the country, which is simply unacceptable,” US senior diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentiis told the Security Council.
He called on the Taliban to respect the independence and neutrality of the United Nations.
He also said that the United States is either banned from entering the office by some female UN staff and female staff from US aid partners, or is required to enter the workplace with a male chaperone. He said he heard the report.
“It would be an understatement to call these reported cases” exorbitant. ” All UN officials must be able to carry out their work without undue burden or discrimination as to who they are, “said Delorentis.
