UNITED NATIONS BEGINS PREPARATIONS TO SEND HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENT MISSION TO BAMIYAN, AFGHANISTAN
Press Release
SG/SM/6724
AFG/87
UNITED NATIONS BEGINS PREPARATIONS TO SEND HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENT MISSION TO BAMIYAN, AFGHANISTAN
19980930 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:Following the request from the Taliban authorities on 14 September, the United Nations initiated preparations to send a humanitarian assessment mission to Bamiyan, Afghanistan, on an exceptional basis. The mission was conditional upon the Taliban guaranteeing the safety of United Nations personnel, especially after the recent tragic murder of two national and one international staff member working in Afghanistan.
The United Nations humanitarian assessment team has been on standby awaiting for flight clearances from the Taliban, who maintain that the Bamiyan airport, which is essential for United Nations access to the region, is undergoing repairs. While the United Nations reiterates its readiness to conduct the mission as soon as conditions permit, the Secretary-General remains extremely concerned about reports of serious violations of human rights in Bamiyan.
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