Insecurity in North-Western Pakistan, UN Staff Cut
New York, Nov 2 2009 2:10PM
The United Nations has decided to reduce the presence of international staff in north-western Pakistan in light of the security situation in the region, leaving only those vital for emergency, humanitarian relief or security operations, among other essential activities.
All other international UN
staff members who are working in the North West Frontier
Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas
(FATA) will be relocated, UN spokesperson Michele Montas
told reporters in New York.
“Security measures will
be enhanced for staff that will continue their work in those
areas,” she added.
Parts of NWFP, including its
capital, Peshawar, have been the site of numerous bombings
and attacks this year.
In addition, NWFP and FATA have
been the targets of the Government’s military operations
to root out militants. Earlier this year, more than 2
million Pakistanis were displaced by the conflict between
Government forces and militants in NWFP.
While about
half of them have returned home, a new offensive in South
Waziristan has already uprooted more than 100,000 people in
recent weeks.
Ms. Montas said that the UN is committed
to providing development and humanitarian assistance to the
people of Pakistan, and will continue to work in the areas
where help is
required.
ENDS