TALKING POINTS

Statement on the Assassination of Haji Abdul Qadir

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expresses its deep concern at the assassination of the Afghan Vice President and Minister of Public Works Haji Abdul Qadir on 6 July 2002 in Kabul.

UNAMA condemns this heinous act in the strongest terms and calls upon the Transitional Administration to undertake without delay an in-depth investigation that will throw full light on the circumstances of this murder and lead to the arrest of those responsible.

The United Nations extends its sympathy to the family of Haji Abdul Qadir as well as the Transitional Administration and the people of Afghanistan.

Update on Mine Clearance in Spin Boldak

As was communicated in the last briefing, the Mine Action Clearance for Afghanistan (MACA) has completed the emergency phase of the clearance operation in Spin Boldak.

Some nine thousand unexploded ordnances have been collected and partially destroyed. Four hundred and fifty thousand square miles has been emergency cleared. Nevertheless, a second search will now take place of this area. Emergency clearance, however, has removed the immediate threat of mines and explosives so as to safeguard against people, particularly children, picking up potentially lethal items.

Three thousand unexploded rockets in the ammunition site were also removed.

The next stage is now routine clearance, removing danger from open and inhabited areas as well as from the ammunition site itself, which will take longer.

Information Communication Technologies (ICT) Training Centers

Two thousand five hundred Afghans in Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kandahar are expected to benefit from the first phase of a recent project to establish five information communication technologies (ICTs) training centres.

The project, initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union, will target government officials, women and the population at large. The aim is to empower Afghans, and to assist then in acquiring basic skills in ICT so as to enhance national ownership of projects supported by foreign donors. The project will also provide income-generating opportunities for Afghan entrepreneurs.

UNHCR Update on Returnees

To date 1,181,000 refugees have returned to Afghanistan.

Of that figure, 1,082,000 have come from Pakistan, 90,000 from Iran with a little over 9,000 from Tajikistan.

The return rate for last week has averaged around 10,000 -11,000 returnees per day

IOM Update - Iain Patterson

Herat IDP Camp Closes
This week the last displaced Afghans living in Herat's Rawzabagh camp went home with IOM road convoys. The camp, one of five Herat camps managed by IOM, was previously home to over 7,000 people.

The returns bring to over 71,000 the total number of IDP's who have sought assistance from IOM and UNHCR to return home from the Herat IDP camps. Since restarting IDP returns in mid-June, following new pledges from donors, IOM Herat has assisted over 9,000 people to return home in time for the autumn planting season. There are currently an estimated 60,000 displaced people still living in Herat's IDP camps. They include about 32,000 in Maslakh camp and 21,000 in Shaidayee camp.

All returnees have been provided with reintegration packs supplied by UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF.

Assisted Voluntary Returns & Return of Qualified Afghans Continue

Over the next two weeks, IOM hopes to return a further 10,000 IDP’s to their places of origin subject to concerns on factional fighting in the north.

In addition, yesterday a further 49 Afghans returned home on the IOM charter flight from Dubai. The bulk of these were irregular migrants stranded in Indonesia en route to Australia.

Two further Return of Qualified Afghans candidates came back from the United States and France and will take up places in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an NGO called Afrane.

Questions & Answers

Q: We have seen reports about some roadblocks where money is being demanded from returnees from Iran. Is this returns that are going on? Do you think you can resolve that?
IOM: Just to be clear on that - is that on the Eslam Qala border crossing to Herat?

Q: Yes, either at the border crossing or inside the western regions.
IOM: UNHCR is now handling the Eslam Qala to Herat shuttle, so I am afraid I cannot offer any information about that. As far as the northern route goes, as you said, we have stopped moving people that way due to impromptu roadblocks and problems of factional fighting. On the southern bound route, as far as I know, the situation is still stable and there have been no reported incidents.

Q: Could you please repeat the total average number of returnees so far?
PIO: 1,181,000.

Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expresses its deep concern at the assassination of the Afghan Vice President and Minister of Public Works Haji Abdul Qadir on 6 July 2002 in Kabul.

UNAMA condemns this heinous act in the strongest terms and calls upon the Transitional Administration to undertake without delay an in-depth investigation that will throw full light on the circumstances of this murder and lead to the arrest of those responsible.

The United Nations extends its sympathy to the family of Haji Abdul Qadir as well as the Transitional Administration and the people of Afghanistan.

Kabul, 6 July 2002