From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 5 Aug 2013 14:00:00 -0400
Subject: BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN, UN SECURITY CHIEF HIGHLIGHTS FUTURE CHALLENGES
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org
BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN, UN SECURITY CHIEF HIGHLIGHTS FUTURE
CHALLENGESNew York, Aug 5 2013 2:00PMThe United Nations has greatly
improved the security provided to staff serving in the field despite
ongoing dangers and risks in dozens of countries, the acting UN
security chief said on his return from Afghanistan, which next year
will hold a presidential election and see national troops assume full
security responsibilities from international military forces.
"I came back with the message with which we left some of the Afghan
authorities, that the UN is there to stay," the Acting Head of the
Department of Security and Safety, Kevin Kennedy, told UN Radio
following his trip, which also included a stop in Pakistan.
"When you see a donkey in many countries, the last thing you expect is
that this donkey is going to explode," Mr. Kennedy said, citing one of
the unexpected dangers in Afghanistan, where bicycle improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) are also used.
At the operational level, the greatest threat to the UN, however, is
against staff in their residences and offices, he noted. The wider UN
system was attacked in Kabul in May when the compound of the
International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN partner
organization, was targeted, resulting in the death of one
international staff member and the wounding of several others.
"The measures that were taken to improve the security in the compound
– safe rooms, early warning systems – reduced the loss of life that
could have happened," Mr. Kennedy said. The professionalism of a
UN-trained Afghan force that responds to safety concerns from the UN
and other international organizations, and a UN-hired private security
company, also played a role.
In addition to taking physical measures to mitigate risks, the UN is
making a more concerted effort to be accepted by local communities by
having residents understand why the UN is in their country and what it
is about.
"It's difficult in environments like Afghanistan, where to preserve
life, to look after your staff, you do have to live in buildings, in
compounds, that are very, very secure. They're not really welcoming
necessarily to people walking in and out," Mr. Kennedy noted, adding
that the UN is trying to balance security needs for staff and security
guards, with being open and available to the people of the country.
"Security is not reaching a certain level of preparedness and
maintaining a status quo, it's constantly questioning and innovating,"
he added.
Mr. Kennedy's trip to Afghanistan comes as the Government and its
partners, including the UN Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA),
is preparing for the presidential election scheduled for April 2014,
and the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) at the end of next year.
"Both will impact the UN staff in the country," Mr. Kennedy said.
"Traditionally, in the past, elections have always witnessed an
upsurge in security incidents."
During his visit last week to Kabul and the provinces of Gardez, Herat
and Kandahar, Mr. Kennedy met with the Minister of Defence, Bismillah
Khan Mohammadi, the Minister of Interior, General Ghulam Mujtaba
Patang, and the heads of the Afghan National Police and the Afghan
police who look after UN compounds.
The Afghan officials have been "reasonably optimistic" that they can
handle the challenges of the future and are clearly committed to
enabling the UN to stay, Mr. Kennedy added.
The UN's security philosophy has changed in the past five years to be
more focused on how to "stay and deliver," as opposed to the previous
approach where the Organization would temporarily relocate staff,
particularly international staff members, when a security situation
deteriorated.
"It's not this reckless 'we're going to do it regardless of what the
security conditions are', but it's a very carefully analyzed threat,
the risk to UN staff and operations, and also, how to mitigate those
risks so the programme, whether humanitarian or political, can
continue," Mr. Kennedy explained.
He noted also the importance of a commitment to national UN staff
working in support of their home countries who often, by virtue of
their association with the world body, are targeted.
It is difficult, he added, for managers and team leaders to look after
their staff when they have been relocated. "It's hard to look after
people when you're not on the ground with them, not sharing what
they're sharing and not facing the same dangers and the same
concerns."Aug 5 2013 2:00PM
________________
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
Follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/UN.News.Centre) and
Twitter (http://twitter.com/UN_News_Centre)
To change your profile or unsubscribe go to: http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/
--
President of The United States
Guy Ralph Perea Sr President of The United States
Weatherdata1046am0426 a Discussion Group of
Weatherdata<http://groups.google.com/group/weatherdata1046am0426>
USFMSC
http://www.cityfreq.com/ca/avalon/>
QUALIFY QICP
OCCUPS
http://www.occupationalinfo.org/02/025062010.html
goldlandabstracts; link check
own search engine - The United
States International Policies
http://lnk.ms/8d5gl aol
http://groups.google.com/group/united-states-of-american
http://twitter.com/ptusss Federal Communication
Commission<http://columbiabroadcast.spaces.live.com/>
Ambassador Chevy Chase; Kevin Corcran; Jack Nickolas; Cher; Shirley Temple
Black; Liza Minnille; Ansari; Ernest Tascoe; Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
Agent Jodie Foster; Department of Veterans Affairs Director George H.W. Bush
Title 22 USCS section 1928 (b) The e-mail
transmission may contain legally privileged information that
is intended only for the individual or entity recipient, you are hereby,
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or reliance upon the
contents of this E-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
E-mail transmission in error, please reply to the sender, so arrangements
can be made for proper delivery. Title 42
USCS section 192 etseq Margie Paxton Chief of Childrens Bureau
Director of The United States Department of Human Services; Defendant
Article IV General Provisions Section 2
(Supreme Law of The Land) The Constitution of The United States "Any thing
in The Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary Notwithstanding"
Contrary to Law (of an act or omission) illegal;
https://twitter.com/ptusss
No comments:
Post a Comment