Taliban take over some UN premises curb movement UN report

Liam McDowall, spokesman for the UN political mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), declined to comment on "alleged leaked documents", especially those tied to staff safety and security.

He said UN premises have not been occupied by the Taliban, but acknowledged that some UN buildings - where no staff were present - "have been broken in to and looted, with security personnel subjected to unacceptable intimidation, but no harm".

The UNDSS report said that the UN's Afghan staff were often reporting house searches by the Taliban and "they are terrified and left alone in dealing with this new reality". 

McDowall said that "no UN staff member has reported a single house search, detention or other serious incident involving the Taliban," but the UN remains "mindful" of staff fears and that "the security situation may further deteriorate". 

He said "extensive security arrangements" were in place.

The Taliban spokesman on Tuesday denied reports that the group were conducting house searches to find targets for reprisals, saying: "We have forgotten everything in the past."

'NO COHERENT COMMAND, CONTROL'

The UNDSS report rated the present security risk as "very high" that any UN security convoy will be deliberately "targeted by gunfire" and UN staff will be killed or injured. It rated the risk as "very high" that Taliban will enter a UN compound and kill, injure or abduct UN personnel.

The UNDSS states that now the Taliban is the ad-hoc Afghan authority it is "the governing element responsible for the security of our personnel and premises". 

"However, at present, there is no coherent command and control with which we can liaise to discuss security requirements or problems. Neither is there a competent force that can or will provide security response in the event of a problem," the UNDSS warned.

It did note that "in some instances, staff have been politely treated and our facilities and compounds respected and secured" by the Taliban.

Three Afghans who work for the United Nations told Reuters they were concerned the world body was not doing enough to help national staff - who have approval to travel to another country - to get to Kabul airport.

The speed with which the Taliban retook the country, as foreign forces withdrew after a 20-year war, has led to chaotic scenes at the airport as diplomats and Afghans try to leave.

McDowall said the United Nations is trying its best despite "very real limitations right now on what can be done regarding access to Kabul Airport."

"The UN in Afghanistan is an entirely civilian, and unarmed, entity," he said, adding that the United Nations was in contact with certain member states to urge them to provide visas or support the temporary relocation of Afghan staff.

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