UN expresses concern over security of its personnel
Concerned over mounting attacks on its staff, the United Nations has called on member states to take steps to protect the world body's personnel involved in peace-keeping tasks in various countries.
By PTI |
UNITED NATIONS: Concerned over mounting attacks on its staff, the United Nations has called on member states to take steps to protect the world body's personnel involved in peace-keeping tasks in various countries.
"There appears to be no safe haven for any UN staff members," Staff Union President Stephen Kisambira said while paying tribute to 294 personnel killed last year in attacks and accidents.
The dead includes 17 staff members killed in December 2007 bombing of UN office in Algiers, seven staff members who died in a helicopter crash in Nepal last month and four UN military observers killed in July 2006 bombing of an observer post in southern Lebanon.
Besides 152 military personnel, 20 police officers and 75 staffs, all locally recruited, were among those killed in attacks. This included 47 people serving with the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), 39 with the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and 34 with the UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS).
The latest victim, Mohammed Makki El Rasheed, was shot and killed on 21 April in Darfur while driving a truck of supplies for the World Food Programme (WFP).
Kisambira asked member states to ratify the 'Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel-2005', which deals with safety of personnel involved in delivering humanitarian, political and development assistance in various countries.
The Protocol is not yet in force, as only 11 countries have ratified it.
"There appears to be no safe haven for any UN staff members," Staff Union President Stephen Kisambira said while paying tribute to 294 personnel killed last year in attacks and accidents.
The dead includes 17 staff members killed in December 2007 bombing of UN office in Algiers, seven staff members who died in a helicopter crash in Nepal last month and four UN military observers killed in July 2006 bombing of an observer post in southern Lebanon.
Besides 152 military personnel, 20 police officers and 75 staffs, all locally recruited, were among those killed in attacks. This included 47 people serving with the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), 39 with the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and 34 with the UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS).
The latest victim, Mohammed Makki El Rasheed, was shot and killed on 21 April in Darfur while driving a truck of supplies for the World Food Programme (WFP).
Kisambira asked member states to ratify the 'Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel-2005', which deals with safety of personnel involved in delivering humanitarian, political and development assistance in various countries.
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The Protocol is not yet in force, as only 11 countries have ratified it.
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