Security situation in Afghanistan deteriorated: UN By Dharam Shourie

United Nations, Sept 30 (PTI) Security situation in
war-torn Afghanistan has deteriorated after the insurgent
groups started planning in a more "sophisticated" manner and
targeting civilians, a latest U.N. report has warned.

"Despite the enhanced capabilities of both the Afghan
National Army and the international forces, the security
situation has deteriorated markedly," Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon writes in the report.

Civilians, Ban said, are also being killed as a result of
military operations carried out by the security forces.

The number of security incidents in August rose to 983,
highest since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 and a 44 percent
more compared for the same month in 2007, the report released
Monday said.

The deterioration of the security situation has hampered
the efforts of U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
(U.N.A.M.A.) with 90 of the country's nearly 400 districts
identified as areas of extreme risk, the report adds.

Also, the attacks on aid-related targets and N.G.O.s have
become more frequent and deadly. This is particularly
disturbing given the worsening humanitarian situation in the
country owing to a combination of conflict, drought and high
food prices, which have left one-sixth of the population in
need of food aid, the Security-General writes.

Calling all parties of the Paris Conference, that took
place earlier this year, to implement the commitments made at
the conference as early as possible, Ban said, "he is
convinced that a change of pace and direction is required."

"Ultimately, success will depend on our ability to bring
about a 'political surge' that musters the political
determination to address those areas in which international
and Afghan efforts have been insufficient, and to accelerate
progress where gains have been made," Ban writes.

The International Conference in Support of Afghanistan,
held on June 12, saw fresh pledges of resources for the
country's rebuilding efforts, as well as the launch of the
Government's five-year plan to reduce poverty and promote
economic and social development, known as the Afghan National
Development Strategy (A.N.D.S.).

He adds that the Paris conference, which saw not only the
launch of the ANDS but also USD 21.4 billion in pledges for
the country's development, is among the positive developments
in recent months.

"It is essential that the people of Afghanistan begin to
see quickly and clearly that we have embarked on a new course
and that it will produce results," he said.

Meanwhile, U.N.A.M.A. reported Tuesday that 190,000
children, most of them in the volatile southern districts of
Helmand and Kandahar, could not be reached during a recent
polio immunisation drive because of obstruction or fighting.

"We continue to appeal to the community to support full
and safe access for health workers and help the goal of
ridding Afghanistan of polio for good," Spokesperson Adrian
Edwards told reporters in Kabul.

The U.N. and Afghan health authorities are planning to
proceed with another round of polio immunisation nationwide
between October 19 and 21. PTI DS
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