November 27, 2001	Tuesday	Ramazan 11, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 26: The United Nations’ Regional Humanitarian Coordinator has drawn the attention of the Northern Alliance to allegations about reported violence against women in the Sakhi camp in Mazar-i-Sharif and the presence of armed elements in the camp.

Speaking at a news conference here on Monday, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan spokesperson Stephanie Bunker said that in a letter to Northern Alliance commander Gen Dostum, the Regional Coordinator had emphasised the need for respecting international humanitarian law and upholding United Nations Conventions on human rights.

UN understood that Gen Dostum had agreed to look into the situation, she said, adding, Gen Dostum had also assured the UN that every effort would be made to ensure normal working condition for the UN and its system partners.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson said, the overall security situation inside Afghanistan continued to be in a flux. She said access to Spin Boldak and Kandahar was not possible due to fighting reported from both Helmund and Kandahar.

She said that due to the prevailing insecurity in the north, UN missions scheduled to leave for Mazar-i-Sharif from Termez over the weekend had to be postponed.

“We have received conflicting reports of fighting over the weekend.” Likewise, she said, the situation in Kunduz was also unstable.

About threats posed by mines littered across Afghanistan, Ms Bunker said the UN Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan had repeated its warning that much of Afghanistan remained mined and littered with unexploded ordinances, exposing the people to serious dangers.

She said that over 100 million square metres of Afghan territory in the north-east along the frontlines alone remained heavily mined.