SECRETARY-GENERAL DEPLORES TALIBAN ATTACKS ON BAMIYAN AIRFIELD, STOPPING EMERGENCY FOOD DELIVERY, ENDANGERING WORKERS
Press Release
SG/SM/6431
AFG/76
SECRETARY-GENERAL DEPLORES TALIBAN ATTACKS ON BAMIYAN AIRFIELD, STOPPING EMERGENCY FOOD DELIVERY, ENDANGERING WORKERS
19980107 Following is a statement attributable to the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General deplores the recent aerial attacks on Bamiyan airfield while World Food Programme aircraft were delivering emergency humanitarian relief supplies. These attacks were carried out despite clearances received in advance from the Taliban authorities. They not only prevented the delivery of urgently needed food to 160,000 vulnerable people who rely on United Nations assistance, but also jeopardized the safety of humanitarian workers.
The Secretary-General has called on the Taliban authorities to allow the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance and to cease any action which endangers the safety of humanitarian personnel. The Secretary-General cannot accept that United Nations personnel should be deliberately targeted while carrying out their humanitarian mission. He has United Nations representatives in Afghanistan to continue to press the Taliban to give an assurance that the airlift of food supplies to central Afghanistan can be safely resumed.