Left to right: Me, Sharky, and our security officer Staale Johansen

We don't actually have to wear our body armor all the time but apart from that this shows a bit of the way we live right now. (We were moved to the UNOCA compound after the attack on a UN guesthouse last month.) The buildings on the left is our World Health Organization home. Staale is a wonderful combination of protective and understanding. We'll miss him but we know he's done more than his share.

My colleagues

Here is the team I work with at the World Health Organization in Afghanistan. (L-R) Dr Asadullah Taqdeer, Mr Patrick Ulrich, Dr Humaira, Ms Shabnam Waleh, and me.

World Health Organization

I've joined the World Health Organization. I am the 'Information Officer' for the Health Cluster, which brings health NGOs working in Afghanistan and the Afghan Ministry of Public Health together. (I think.)

It's STILL not the type of management position I'm trying to return to but it looks interesting.

As the Presidential and Provincial Council elections approach we're bracing for threatened 'complex attacks' on our compound. This means that a first vehicle born suicide bomb might smash the compound entrance and then other attackers will run in shooting before detonating their suicide vests. Our building is within a big (and now targeted) compound but we're adding a thick steel front door and windows will be bricked over. Yesterday we were told that when we hear the initial bomb (and apparently we "WILL hear it" - the Taliban won't come with less than 500Kg of explosives) we should lock our door and hide under our desks. Apparently there will be no time to rush to the bunker.

Also related to the election, we are advocating for the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan to reverse its decision to use health facilities (and schools) for polling. We are concerned that politicizing health facilities jeopardizes their neutrality and the perception and reality that they are safe places. Furthermore, if there is violence on election day the health facilities must be available, not involved.