Secretary-General releases report on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel

-- Expresses grave concern at rise in deliberate targeting of humanitarian and UN personnel, calls for international collective responsibility to protect UN and humanitarian workers --

UNITED NATIONS--Attacks on UN and humanitarian field workers have increased to alarming levels, according to a report by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released today. Deaths of UN staff by malicious attack increased by 38 percent in the period covered by the report (1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008), or to 26 deaths from 16 in the previous year. Locally recruited humanitarian and UN personnel accounted for the majority of casualties (22 of the 26 deaths). The year under study was also the worst in recorded history for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), who lost 63 workers to malicious acts. Im gravely concerned by the wide scale of threats, the rise in deliberate targeting of humanitarian and UN personnel and their vulnerability worldwide, the Secretary-General wrote. He calls for international collective responsibility and closer collaboration between the United Nations and Member States, especially host governments, to protect humanitarian and UN staff. Key factors in the alarming growth of malicious incidents include: expanded and sustained UN operations, particularly in conflict or post-conflict areas; rising criminality; the spread of terrorist acts; sharp increases in food and fuel prices; rising public expectations and local misconception about UN operations or presence; and the climate of impunity for violent acts against UN and humanitarian personnel. Most of the security incidents directed against UN staff occurred in Africa. However, the Secretary-General noted that, While threats by extremists existed in the past in a few locations, the threats have expanded indiscriminately to all locations. The attack against United Nations offices in Algiers on 11 December 2007, in which 17 UN staff members were killed, was stark evidence of this disturbing trend. The Secretary-General made particular note of attacks on UN and humanitarian workers in Afghanistan, Darfur, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, where 18 NGO members were killed during the reporting period: I condemn such behavior in the strongest terms and call upon all parties to respect humanitarian principles and to allow the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. UN staff security directly affects the UNs ability to carry out its programmes and advance mandates in all areas of its operations, especially in conflict or post-conflict areas, where the UN must sometimes suspend or curtail its life-saving humanitarian or its recovery and development activities or evacuate staff during the height of insecurity.

The Secretary-General reminded UN Member States that the primary responsibility for the security and protection of staff members rests with the host governments, who are the first line of defense in the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel. I call on all Member States to address three topical issues: unlawful arrest, detention and harassments of UN staff, obstruction of freedom of movement of UN and humanitarian workers and impunity for crimes committed against humanitarian and UN personnel. He also noted his concern over the difficulties encountered in some countries over the import of communications equipment. These difficulties have affected not only UN staff security but also the very people the UN is trying to help. In the reporting period, in incidents involving the United Nations, there were 490 attacks of UN offices, convoys and premises, 546 harassment and intimidation cases, 578 robberies, 263 physical assaults, 119 hijackings and 160 arrests by State and 39 cases of detention by non-State actors. Also, there were 84 forced entries of UN offices and 583 residential break-ins. The Department of Safety and Security received firsthand and secondhand accounts of security incidents against humanitarian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). During the year, incidents against NGOs included 236 attacks of convoys and premise, 70 cases of detention by State authorities and 103 incidents of unlawful detention by non-state actors, 41 incidents of assault, 132 incidents of harassment, 138 incidents of forced entry or occupation of premises, 113 armed robberies, 50 incidents of vehicle hijacking, 70 residential break-ins and 124 thefts. These numbers do not represent an exhaustive account, but is indicative of the threats and incidents reported to the UN. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security was created in 2005 as a unified department to coordinate security management throughout the UN system. The Department works with Member States to enable effective programme delivery through effective and timely responses to all security-related threats, effective risk mitigation and high-quality security policies, standards and operational guidelines. The Department works with all of the UN system organs to put in place effective risk management strategies which enable them to carry out their missions as successfully as possible, without putting their staff at unnecessary risk. The Secretary-General said he would continue to strengthen the UNs Security Management System by improving accountability, leadership and internal management. He called in particular for an urgent review of the policies and arrangements necessary to provide locally recruited personnel with adequate safety and security. The report (document A/63/305), Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, had been requested by the General Assembly in 2007, to be presented to the sixty-third session of the GA. It covers the security situation for civilian personnel and does not address threats to UN military forces.