Posted on 10/26/2001 11:39:26 AM PDT by B.Bumbleberry
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations said on Friday Taliban forces had conducted another series of raids on their offices in Afghanistan and stolen vital relief goods, radios and cars.
The UN's reports came as the Taliban appealed for the help of aid agencies and tried to reassure them it could ensure their safety despite the continuing breakdown of law and order.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Peter Kessler said the organisation's office and adjacent warehouse in the Taliban's southern stronghold of Kandahar had been looted.
Kessler said the warehouse had held 590 tents, 500 tarpaulins, thousands of shoes and various school materials that were meant for the impoverished people in the region.
He said Taliban soldiers had previously been holding meetings in the UNHCR's Kandahar office and refugees fleeing the city to Pakistan had reported the organisation's nine vehicles in the city were being driven around by armed men.
"This is very worrisome and indicative of the deterioration of law and order around the country."
Kessler's comments came hours after the Taliban appealed to the UN for help in clearing bombs dropped by the United States during the 20-day military conflict in Afghanistan and guaranteed the safety of aid organisations.
"We will ensure their security, this will not be a problem," Taliban Education Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told AFP.
But the UN's World Food Program also reported the Taliban had taken over offices and stolen property in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, Kandahar and Jalalabad in the east.
The UN on October 20 expressed concern that the deteriorating security in Afghanistan had led to looting and attacks on staff by various armed elements including the Taliban.
"The United Nations' ability to keep operating is diminishing day by day," UN spokesman Antonio Donino said. ( AFP )
Stressful times reveal the true character, don't they?
Sounds like the cracks are showing. Who says we're not winning.
There's another one - says "UN" right on the side! Fox 1 ...
Time for the UN to pull out. We'll airdrop relief as necessary. Funny how we'll be blowing up nice little Land Cruisers that we paid for - just the cost of freedom I guess.
Commonly known as a "protection racket"
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