The United Nations Staff Union on Tuesday warned against terrorists' attacks on its members around the world, saying the strikes have assumed a frightening dimension.
The union gave the warning in New York when it paid tribute to its members who lost their lives in various attacks in 2011.
``Enough is enough,” said UN Staff Union President Barbara Tavora-Jainchill, stressing that ``one life lost is one life too many.’’
The union gave the warning in New York when it paid tribute to its members who lost their lives in various attacks in 2011.
``Enough is enough,” said UN Staff Union President Barbara Tavora-Jainchill, stressing that ``one life lost is one life too many.’’
She said that the security and safety of UN premises and staff ought to be taken more seriously, adding that more funds should be made available for that purpose.
Tavora-Jainchill recalled that 35 UN personnel, 25 civilians, nine peacekeepers and a military officer were killed, along with four security guards working for the organisation in 2011
She said that the number reflected a significant increase in the deaths of UN staff members in attacks, if compared to 2010, when 15 UN personnel were killed.
``Decisions regarding the security of staff should be independent of any economic or political considerations,” she said, stressing that the union would continue to press for the safety of UN officials worldwide.
Tavora-Jainchill noted that the three worst attacks against UN personnel in 2011 occurred in Afghanistan and Nigeria, two countries where the organisation maintained a significant presence.
She recalled that on April 1, 2011, a large crowd of Afghan demonstrators, incensed by the burning of a copy of the Qu’ran by one group in the United States, stormed the UN compound in Mazar-i-Sharif and killed three UN staff and four Nepalese guards.
``Many staff members were wounded, including the head of the UNAMA’s office in the city.
``Also on October 31, three Afghan employees in the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were killed and two others wounded when suicide bombers and gunmen attacked their compound in Kandahar.
``In addition to those killings, on August 26, a car bombing at the UN complex in the Nigerian capital of Abuja claimed the lives of 13 staff members,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Tavora-Jainchill as saying on the incidents.
She said hundreds of UN personnel, working in 26 different agencies and entities were in the building when the bomber struck.
Culled from The Nation
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