TALIBAN ACTIONS AGAINST AID COMMUNITY THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE, SECRETARY-GENERAL WARNS
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General is concerned at the reported detention of international staff of International Assistance Mission (IAM) by the Taliban in Herat and in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.� He is also concerned about the order of expulsion given to all international staff of both IAM and SERVE, which may bring to an end their assistance activities in Afghanistan.� This action by the Taliban against the aid community could have serious consequences on the provision of international humanitarian assistance.� This aid is desperately needed to address extreme suffering caused by war, poverty, massive displacement, and severe drought.
The Secretary-General appeals to the Taliban to assure the security, and freedom to operate, of all international aid workers in accordance with international law.
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