Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UN orders Afghan retreat to protect aid staff

Paul Haven
Tuesday 18 November 2003 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The United Nations refugee agency began pulling foreign staff out of southern and eastern Afghanistan yesterday - a decision that could hit tens of thousands of Afghans - after a French aid worker was killed.

Thirty foreign workers were being withdrawn, and refugee centres in the provinces of Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost and Kandahar were being closed, said Filippo Grandi, the chief of mission in Afghanistan at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He said: "We will review the situation after two weeks."

The withdrawal follows a series of attacks on the UN including the drive-by killing on Sunday of Bettina Goislard, 20, who worked for the UNHCR. She was travelling through a bazaar in a clearly marked UN vehicle in Ghazni, 60 miles south-west of the capital, Kabul. On the same day, a UN vehicle was attacked in Paktia, while a car bomb exploded outside UN offices in Kandahar on 11 November, injuring two people.

Haji Asadullah Khalid, the governor of Ghazni, said two men alleged to have killed Ms Goislard had been taken into custody. He said they admitted the crime and being members of the Taliban. Ms Goislard had worked in Afghanistan for more than a year.

Mullah Akim Latifi, who claims to speak for the Taliban, said its fighters were not responsible for the murder of Ms Goislard.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in