PESHAWAR, Jan 10: Following suicide bombings and other terror incidents in different parts of the NWFP targeting police, the United Nations has asked its staff to avoid proximity with police and army personnel for security reasons.
An official associated with a UN agency told Dawn that the agency was concerned for the safety of its staff following the killing of 42 army recruits at Dargai late last year and two policemen in Bannu in separate incidents. Another suicide bombing in Peshawar had also targeted policemen.
"We have also asked our staff to avoid using official vehicles more often on the roads. We are in constant touch with the higher authorities while in the field," he said.
The UN employees working in Peshawar and elsewhere in the NWFP had been asked to exercise caution and avoid visiting Fata without security guards.
"We are also vulnerable because our offices are housed in government buildings where there is no check on the entry of people as well as cars, and in most cases, terrorists attack government buildings," said sources at the agency. They did not give specific number of the UN personnel working in the NWFP, but said they were in hundreds.
The sources said two years ago, a UN vehicle had come under fire near Peshawar that raised alarm among other staffers. They said though the UN and the US were different entities, the people regarded them as one, and any action by the US in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere in the Muslim world drew severe criticism from the general public.
Specially-designed hostage incident cards by the UNSO, which have been dispatched to all sub-offices throughout the country, say: "Your job is to survive. At the time of your seizure, do not attempt to fight back. The first 15 to 45 minutes are most dangerous. Do not play hero, do not talk back or act tough."
The UN also has counselling facilities for their staffers who, after their release from the captivity, would be counselled for a month to do away with mental stress they had undergone as hostage.
Likewise, a handbook "Security Awareness" had been designed to inform the UN employees of problems and solutions concerning security matter. A hostage negotiation team of the UN had also been constituted with a view to securing release of the staffers from the captors.
"Now the situation is different. Whenever there is a demonstration or protest in the city, the high-ups ask us to close offices," said an employee of the UN.