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UNAMA Chief: Govt Continues To Prioritize Reform Agenda

Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, on Thursday delivered his three-monthly report to the UN Security Council on Afghanistan. 

According to the report, the National Unity Government (NUG) continued to prioritize its reform agenda, with an emphasis on anti-corruption measures and security sector reform, in the face of ongoing security and governance challenges. 

He stated the report provides an update on the activities of the United Nations in Afghanistan, including political, humanitarian, development and human rights efforts, since September. 

The report stated that although electoral preparations by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) faced setbacks, political groups continued to work together around the prospect of parliamentary and district council elections. 

However, the security situation remained highly volatile, as the Taliban and Daesh showed continued capacity for inflicting mass casualties amid increased Afghan and international air strikes. 

The report also stated there was no meaningful progress towards a peace settlement.    

His report pointed out that a fragile political equilibrium emerged after the announcement of July 2018 as the date for the parliamentary and district council elections. 

But it stated that delays on key decisions placed the electoral timeline in jeopardy and exacerbated concerns about the IEC's capacity and independence. 

"Political figures began to question the feasibility of holding credible elections as scheduled, and public skepticism around elections increased. Some opposition figures called for elections to be superseded by extraconstitutional measures and the creation of an interim administration," Yamamoto stated in the report. 

It went on to state that "the political landscape, however, was largely dominated by the mobilization of major opposition coalitions around the electoral process."

Yamamoto also stated in the report that the formation of the Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan brought together prominent politicians, such as the governor of Balkh Province, Atta Mohammad Noor, and the First Vice-President, Abdul Rashid Dostum, as well as the Second Deputy Chief Executive, Mohammad Mohaqeq. 

"Despite the historical rivalry between Mr. Noor and Mr. Dostum, their alliance has endured, and the former took steps to expand the coalition’s geographical base, reaching out to such politicians as the Police Chief of Kandahar, Abdul Raziq, a parliamentarian from the eastern region, Zahir Qadir, and a former mujahidin leader from the western region, Ismail Khan," the report stated. 

The report also noted that some opposition figures became increasingly vocal in their calls for a traditional loya jirga, a traditional form of national assembly largely constituted by elders, as a step towards the establishment of a new form of government. 

The report stated that the situation in Afghanistan remained highly volatile, as conflict between government and anti-government forces continued throughout most of the country. 

Yamamoto stated in the report that the United Nations recorded 3,995 security-related incidents from 15 September to 15 November, representing a four percent decrease compared with the same period in 2016. 

By 15 November, the United Nations had recorded more than 21,105 security related incidents for the first 11 months of 2017, an increase of one percent since 2016. The continuing high number of incidents is attributed mainly to armed clashes. In line with established trends, armed clashes accounted for the majority of security incidents, at 62 percent, followed by improvised explosive devices, at 17 per cent. 

Targeted killings and abductions increased by 16 percent compared with the same period in 2016. 

The eastern region experienced the highest number of incidents, followed by the southern region, with the two regions accounting for 56 percent of all incidents. 

Yamamoto said Afghan and international forces significantly increased their air operations following the announcement of the new United States strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia. 

During the reporting period there were 215 air strikes, a 73 percent increase compared with the same period in 2016, and in October the mission recorded the highest number of air strikes in the country to date. Air strikes were reported in 22 provinces, with the majority conducted in Helmand Province in the south and Nangarhar Province in the east. 

The increase in air strikes had a notable effect on the ground, reportedly inflicting heavy casualties on anti-government elements and civilians.  
Yamamoto said the reporting period witnessed one of the most violent weeks in recent times, as anti-government elements staged a seemingly coordinated series of attacks in several locations. 

From 17 to 19 October, the Taliban launched four complex attacks around the country using Humvees rigged as suicide bombs, killing more than 100 people, including both Afghan National Defense and Security Forces personnel and civilians. The incidents were indicative of a growing Taliban focus on attacking the bases of Afghan security forces rather than district centers, inflicting heavy casualties, weakening morale and stealing military equipment.  

In addition, Daesh remained resilient, claiming responsibility for several attacks against both the civilian population and military targets throughout the reporting period. These included three suicide attacks in Kabul, two of which were against worshippers at mosques, inflicting numerous civilian casualties. 

The group also claimed responsibility for an attack on a television station in Kabul on 7 November and for a suicide attack against a gathering of supporters of Noor in Kabul on 16 November. Daesh and Taliban militants also fought against each other in Nangarhar and Jawzjan Provinces. 

The report went on to state that on 12 October, UNAMA released civilian casualty trends for the first nine months of 2017. Between 1 January and 30 September, the Mission documented 8,019 civilian casualties (2,640 deaths and 5,379 injured), a decrease of six percent compared with the same period in 2016. Civilian deaths increased by one percent, while the number of injured civilians decreased by nine percent. 

"Conflict-related violence also destroyed livelihoods, homes and property, displaced thousands of families and limited access to education, health and other services," the report stated. 

UNAMA attributed 64 percent of all civilian casualties to anti-government elements, 20 percent to pro-government forces, 11 percent to unattributed crossfire during ground engagements between antigovernment elements and pro-government forces and five percent to other sources, including explosive remnants of war and cross-border shelling.  

Yamamoto reported that on women’s economic empowerment, challenges discussed included harassment faced by women in obtaining and certifying educational credentials and in the workforce, as well as their limited access to assets. 

Government officials also highlighted the need for targeted infrastructure development, which they acknowledged must be carefully prioritized to address key construction and maintenance needs. 

On the issue of displaced people, the reporting period indicates that about 33,000 people were newly displaced by conflict, bringing the overall total to more than 318,000 in 2017. 

Of all displaced people, 23 percent relocated to hard-to-reach areas that were either very remote or controlled or contested by anti-government elements. Internal displacement has affected 31 out of 34 provinces across the country in 2017. 

"As the fighting has become more protracted in some places and the frontlines have shifted, many displaced families have been forced to move multiple times," the report states.

For the full report CLICK HERE 

UNAMA Chief: Govt Continues To Prioritize Reform Agenda

The United Nations Assistance Mission In Afghanistan's report states that there was no meaningful progress towards a peace settlement.

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Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, on Thursday delivered his three-monthly report to the UN Security Council on Afghanistan. 

According to the report, the National Unity Government (NUG) continued to prioritize its reform agenda, with an emphasis on anti-corruption measures and security sector reform, in the face of ongoing security and governance challenges. 

He stated the report provides an update on the activities of the United Nations in Afghanistan, including political, humanitarian, development and human rights efforts, since September. 

The report stated that although electoral preparations by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) faced setbacks, political groups continued to work together around the prospect of parliamentary and district council elections. 

However, the security situation remained highly volatile, as the Taliban and Daesh showed continued capacity for inflicting mass casualties amid increased Afghan and international air strikes. 

The report also stated there was no meaningful progress towards a peace settlement.    

His report pointed out that a fragile political equilibrium emerged after the announcement of July 2018 as the date for the parliamentary and district council elections. 

But it stated that delays on key decisions placed the electoral timeline in jeopardy and exacerbated concerns about the IEC's capacity and independence. 

"Political figures began to question the feasibility of holding credible elections as scheduled, and public skepticism around elections increased. Some opposition figures called for elections to be superseded by extraconstitutional measures and the creation of an interim administration," Yamamoto stated in the report. 

It went on to state that "the political landscape, however, was largely dominated by the mobilization of major opposition coalitions around the electoral process."

Yamamoto also stated in the report that the formation of the Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan brought together prominent politicians, such as the governor of Balkh Province, Atta Mohammad Noor, and the First Vice-President, Abdul Rashid Dostum, as well as the Second Deputy Chief Executive, Mohammad Mohaqeq. 

"Despite the historical rivalry between Mr. Noor and Mr. Dostum, their alliance has endured, and the former took steps to expand the coalition’s geographical base, reaching out to such politicians as the Police Chief of Kandahar, Abdul Raziq, a parliamentarian from the eastern region, Zahir Qadir, and a former mujahidin leader from the western region, Ismail Khan," the report stated. 

The report also noted that some opposition figures became increasingly vocal in their calls for a traditional loya jirga, a traditional form of national assembly largely constituted by elders, as a step towards the establishment of a new form of government. 

The report stated that the situation in Afghanistan remained highly volatile, as conflict between government and anti-government forces continued throughout most of the country. 

Yamamoto stated in the report that the United Nations recorded 3,995 security-related incidents from 15 September to 15 November, representing a four percent decrease compared with the same period in 2016. 

By 15 November, the United Nations had recorded more than 21,105 security related incidents for the first 11 months of 2017, an increase of one percent since 2016. The continuing high number of incidents is attributed mainly to armed clashes. In line with established trends, armed clashes accounted for the majority of security incidents, at 62 percent, followed by improvised explosive devices, at 17 per cent. 

Targeted killings and abductions increased by 16 percent compared with the same period in 2016. 

The eastern region experienced the highest number of incidents, followed by the southern region, with the two regions accounting for 56 percent of all incidents. 

Yamamoto said Afghan and international forces significantly increased their air operations following the announcement of the new United States strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia. 

During the reporting period there were 215 air strikes, a 73 percent increase compared with the same period in 2016, and in October the mission recorded the highest number of air strikes in the country to date. Air strikes were reported in 22 provinces, with the majority conducted in Helmand Province in the south and Nangarhar Province in the east. 

The increase in air strikes had a notable effect on the ground, reportedly inflicting heavy casualties on anti-government elements and civilians.  
Yamamoto said the reporting period witnessed one of the most violent weeks in recent times, as anti-government elements staged a seemingly coordinated series of attacks in several locations. 

From 17 to 19 October, the Taliban launched four complex attacks around the country using Humvees rigged as suicide bombs, killing more than 100 people, including both Afghan National Defense and Security Forces personnel and civilians. The incidents were indicative of a growing Taliban focus on attacking the bases of Afghan security forces rather than district centers, inflicting heavy casualties, weakening morale and stealing military equipment.  

In addition, Daesh remained resilient, claiming responsibility for several attacks against both the civilian population and military targets throughout the reporting period. These included three suicide attacks in Kabul, two of which were against worshippers at mosques, inflicting numerous civilian casualties. 

The group also claimed responsibility for an attack on a television station in Kabul on 7 November and for a suicide attack against a gathering of supporters of Noor in Kabul on 16 November. Daesh and Taliban militants also fought against each other in Nangarhar and Jawzjan Provinces. 

The report went on to state that on 12 October, UNAMA released civilian casualty trends for the first nine months of 2017. Between 1 January and 30 September, the Mission documented 8,019 civilian casualties (2,640 deaths and 5,379 injured), a decrease of six percent compared with the same period in 2016. Civilian deaths increased by one percent, while the number of injured civilians decreased by nine percent. 

"Conflict-related violence also destroyed livelihoods, homes and property, displaced thousands of families and limited access to education, health and other services," the report stated. 

UNAMA attributed 64 percent of all civilian casualties to anti-government elements, 20 percent to pro-government forces, 11 percent to unattributed crossfire during ground engagements between antigovernment elements and pro-government forces and five percent to other sources, including explosive remnants of war and cross-border shelling.  

Yamamoto reported that on women’s economic empowerment, challenges discussed included harassment faced by women in obtaining and certifying educational credentials and in the workforce, as well as their limited access to assets. 

Government officials also highlighted the need for targeted infrastructure development, which they acknowledged must be carefully prioritized to address key construction and maintenance needs. 

On the issue of displaced people, the reporting period indicates that about 33,000 people were newly displaced by conflict, bringing the overall total to more than 318,000 in 2017. 

Of all displaced people, 23 percent relocated to hard-to-reach areas that were either very remote or controlled or contested by anti-government elements. Internal displacement has affected 31 out of 34 provinces across the country in 2017. 

"As the fighting has become more protracted in some places and the frontlines have shifted, many displaced families have been forced to move multiple times," the report states.

For the full report CLICK HERE 

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