News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

KABUL - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on all those engaged in armed hostilities around the world to observe the Olympic Truce by laying down their weapons, as the Russian city of Sochi prepares to host the Winter Olympics this week.“I call on all combatants everywhere to…

4 February 2014 – The eleven Presidential candidates contesting the 5 April Afghan elections started their political campaign on Sunday, with billboards and banners dotting major Afghan cities, including the capital, Kabul.According to the timeline set by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) of…

KABUL - The top United Nations official in Afghanistan said today that the level of women’s participation in the upcoming Presidential and Provincial Council elections, slated for 5 April, will be “a key measure of success” of the polls.“We all need to work together in encouraging women’s…

HERAT - Local officials in Herat announced they have started a process to collect all drug addicts form the city and send them to a shelter.The Provincial Governor, Fazlullah Wahidi, said in an interview that a shelter has been established for the addicts with support of some local businessmen and…

KABUL - Reversing a decline in civilian casualties recorded in 2012, the number of civilians killed or injured in Afghanistan’s armed conflict increased by 14 per cent in 2013, according to a new United Nations report released today.The 2013 Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict…

KABUL - A United Nations-backed high-level anti-corruption body has identified “illegal practices and weak processes” for the appointment and training of prosecutors in Afghanistan, which contribute to the lack of prosecution for corruption and general impunity.In a news release issued today, the…

KABUL - The Government of Afghanistan launched today its National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons with the aim to set out a “comprehensive, effective and realistic” framework to address the issue of displacement in Afghanistan.The policy, which was approved by the Afghan Cabinet last November…

KABUL - The humanitarian community in Afghanistan launched an appeal to donors today for $406 million required to meet “the most acute” humanitarian needs in 2014.“In 2014, I appeal to donors to maintain a similar level of humanitarian funding as in 2013, when $384 million was received in support of…

KABUL - Media rights groups in Afghanistan have called for greater protection of female radio workers, whose number was rising until a few years ago before mounting threats against them forced many of them to give up their jobs.“Women and girls working for media organizations, including in the radio…

KABUL - The United Nations political chief has said that inclusion and integrity of the upcoming Presidential and Provincial Council elections, slated for 5 April, go hand-in-hand to build credibility of the Afghan vote.In an interview with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) at the end…

KABUL - The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, concluded his two-day visit to Afghanistan today. This was Mr. Feltman’s first visit to Afghanistan since assuming the UN’s top political position on 2 July 2012. He largely focused on familiarising himself…

NANGARHAR - At a United Nations supported conference, Ulema (religious scholars) from eastern region of Afghanistan today vowed to work for peace and raise awareness among the Afghan people of the importance of the upcoming elections and of the need to ensure the high level of women's participation…