Afghanistan: UN condemns ‘horrendous attack’ on demining partner HALO Trust

The United Nations on Wednesday called for an investigation into the deadly attack in northern Afghanistan against the HALO Trust, a humanitarian group working to rid the country of landmines. In a statement issued on Friday, the UN Security Council described the attack as "atrocious and cowardly", underlining the need to hold the terrorist perpetrators to account.

Ten people were killed, and 16 others injured, when gunmen burst into a demining camp in Baghlan-e-Markazi district and opened fire. 

HALO Trust said the attack occurred around 9:50 pm Tuesday, local time, when some 110 men, from local communities in northern Afghanistan, were in the camp after finishing their work on nearby minefields. 

Bring perpetrators to justice 

In strongly condemning the attack, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the HALO Trust is a global partner in operations to clear landmines, and other explosive devices, and to better the lives of vulnerable people. 

“We send heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, and we wish for a speedy and full recovery to the injured”, he said, during his latest media briefing in New York. 

“We further call for a full investigation to ensure that those responsible for this horrendous attack are held accountable and brought to justice. " 

Outrage and condemnation

Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, echoed the call for an investigation. 

“It is repugnant that an organization that works to clear landmines and other explosives and better the lives of vulnerable people could be targeted”, he said in a statement. 

Since 1989, more than 40,000 Afghans have been killed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war, according to data from the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS).  Last year it helped the country to clear some 14 square kilometres of land. 

“UNMAS is outraged by and condemns in the strongest terms the attack on humanitarian deminers last night in Afghanistan,” the agency said in a post on Twitter. 

“We are dismayed and saddened for the victims, their families, and the terror inflicted on the survivors.” 

Human targets 

The UN mission in the country, UNAMA, also took to Twitter to condemn the attack, describing it as “deeply shocking”. 

UNAMA stated that warring parties “have a fundamental responsibility to safeguard humanitarians in the areas they control. Yet it is clear that certain parties and people within their ranks are deliberately targeting them.” 

The mission added that “all those parties claiming to desire peace for the Afghan people need to demonstrate concrete action to support their claims and put an end to the terrible crimes such as witnessed in Baghlan”. 

The UN has underlined its commitment to staying in Afghanistan, where aid workers, particularly women, are facing increased attacks and harassment. 

Mr Dujarric reported that 11 were killed, 27 injured and 36 abducted, between January and April of this year. 

“Our humanitarian colleagues warn that interference with humanitarian activities escalated in 2020, with a 140 per cent increase in incidents compared to 2019. This escalating trend continues in 2021”, he said. 

He urged parties to the conflict to protect civilians, aid workers and civilian structures such as schools and hospitals, in line with international humanitarian law.

UPDATE: Security Council condemns 'atrocious and cowardly' attack

The members of the Security Council issued a statement on Friday, condemning "in the strongest terms the atrocious and cowardly targeted attack against humanitarian mine clearance workers that took place in Baghlan-e-Markazi"

Ambassadors noted the attack had been claimed by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) an entity affiliated with extremist terrorist group ISIL, which "resulted in at least 10 people killed and wounded more than a dozen people, many of whom were of the Hazara minority. 

"The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Afghanistan and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. "