'UNAMA Raps New Report By Rights Watchdog', AlertNet, 22 January 2009
EXCERPT: "A spokesman of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has dismissed recommendations to the UN and other international actors by the Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), a new Kabul-based rights watchdog, as 'superficial and deeply uninformed'. The ARM report criticises the UN and international aid agencies for their alleged inability to reach and assist needy communities, particularly in insecure areas. 'Whilst millions of people desperately needed humanitarian assistance… the UN and other aid agencies were entrenched in diminishing security zones in Kabul and a few other cities,' ARM said. ARM called on the UN to maintain its neutrality, reach and assist people in volatile areas, and improve accountability and transparency in the disbursement of international funds. However, Dan McNorton, a UNAMA spokesman, strongly rejected the criticisms of UN agencies. 'The report has overlooked our regional and provincial presence; the thousands of road missions conducted every year; the immunisation programmes for millions of people; the assistance to millions of returnees; the winter pre-positioning of 34,000 tonnes of food; the disaster relief operations; and major work with communities across the country,' he said, adding that the UN had a country-wide footprint."
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See also:
'Foreign forces defend efforts to protect Afghans', AFP, 22 January 2009
'UN envoy rejects calls for new Afghan strategies ', Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 22 January 2009
Related posts:
'UN chief in Afghanistan: Protect civilians', 17 December 2008
'Afghanistan not in crisis: UNSC', 28 November 2008
'NATO ties strained over civilian killings', 4 September 2008
'US and NATO strikes exact heavy toll', 20 July 2008
