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AFGHANISTAN: NGOs concerned about possible election violence

KABUL, 17 August 2009 (IRIN) - Aid workers are concerned about security in Kabul during the August elections in Afghanistan.

“These are among the most complex elections attempted anywhere and present unique challenges, not least insecurity,” Dan McNorton, a spokesman of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told IRIN on 17 August.

“We are worried about insecurity in Kabul during the elections as we have heard some people talking about violence,” said Wazhma Popal of the Afghanistan Women’s Network (AWN) - an umbrella organization of NGOs working on women’s development.

“Security is a concern throughout the year but during the elections it is worse,” said Gyan Bahadur Adhikari, country director for ActionAid.

Up to 15 million voters are expected to cast their votes in the simultaneous presidential and provincial council elections, but insurgents have warned they will use all means - including suicide attacks, roadside explosions and other attacks - to disrupt the exercise.

The pre-voting period has been marred by concerns about possible violent riots and social unrest caused by the supporters of presidential candidates.

Supporters of the former foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah, have reportedly warned they would take to the streets “with Kalashnikovs” if the incumbent president, Hamid Karzai - who is seeking re-election - is declared the winner, according to an Interior Ministry press release.

Abdullah has denied the allegations but has not categorically condemned the possibility of violence if he does not win.

Many NGO staff to take leave

About 150,000 Afghan security forces and tens of thousands of NATO-led international troops will be involved in a massive security effort to protect voters and polling stations across the country, according to government officials.

Some NGOs said their international staff had been advised to go on summer holidays during the elections period (15 August to early September) to avoid possible violence. Others said they would be working in a limited capacity because they did not have the security resources to protect their workers.

“Our offices across the country will be closed from Tuesday [18 August] to Sunday [23 August],” Lex Kassenberg, country director for CARE International, told IRIN. He said the remaining international staff would work from their homes.

Popal of AWN said many NGOs had approved four days of leave (19-23 August) for their national staff in order to minimize the risk of them being targeted. “NGOs have very limited insecurity mitigating resources,” she said.

Because most NGOs do not use armed guards, their offices, vehicles and staff are vulnerable to criminal attacks, but even more so when the country’s army and police are busy monitoring elections.

“Elections are the top priority for the United Nations in Afghanistan at the moment. For all UN staff involved in supporting the elections, it will be business as usual,” said UNAMA’s McNorton.

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Copyright © IRIN 2009
This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States.
IRIN is a project of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.