ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS ON ALL PARTIES IN AFGHANISTAN TO ENSURE SAFETY OF HUMANITARIAN STAFF

Press Release
GA/SM/50
AFG/81

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS ON ALL PARTIES IN AFGHANISTAN TO ENSURE SAFETY OF HUMANITARIAN STAFF

The following was issued today by the spokesman for the President of the General Assembly:

The President of the General Assembly, Hennadiy Udovenko (Ukraine), is gravely concerned about the recent developments in Afghanistan which seriously undermine international efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. The President deplores the killing last weekend of two Afghan nationals working for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP). He is also distressed by the expulsion of non-governmental organizations, which were the main partners of United Nations agencies in the country. The President of the General Assembly calls on all parties in Afghanistan to ensure safety and security of humanitarian staff and to refrain from any action that could impede efforts to deliver assistance to the long-suffering people of Afghanistan.

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