ISLAMABAD, April 13: The United Nations has said that the access of aid workers to conflict zones, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, has shrunk mainly because of a surge in violence in those parts of the world in recent years. In a study released on Tuesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance feared that access could diminish both as a direct result of violence and as a consequence of the obstacles created by militaries, governments and non-state actors that hindered an impartial provision of aid.

However, data contained in the study titled ‘To Stay and Deliver’ shows that attacks on aid workers in Pakistan were much lower than in Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia and Sri Lanka between 2005 and 2010.

Drone attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have killed some of the senior leaders of militants, have in some ways complicated the security context for future humanitarian aid operations, notes the study.

The most serious or prevalent threat in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia is suicide bombing followed by kidnappings, armed raids, collateral violence, common crime, car-jacking/ambushes, sexual violence and landmines.

The use of heavy explosives to attack aid operations and other international and political entities is the other notable trend.—Reporter