Because I am unemployed I am free to make my own sensible security decisions here in Kabul. Yesterday I walked up 'TV Hill', chatting with the children and guards and enjoying the panorama. More photos here.
Sharky says this was the worst bomb she's experienced in Kabul (and she's already experienced some bad ones) but she's 'fine'. I wish I hadn't left her there alone.
There was a suicide blast a few kilometres from our compound just now but we're both fine.
I'm really looking forward to when we've left this country...
There is currently a complex attack in the center of Kabul but we are far away and safe. BBC story here.
There was an explosion in Kabul today - a bad one - but we were nowhere near it and we're fine.
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.
It has been AGES since I blogged anything except "Sharky and I are OK" after the various explosions and attacks here in Kabul. I have been so busy with work and moving that tonight seems like my first chance to really relax.
Sharky and I have now moved into our sixth home together - while we still have ten days until two years from the date we first set eyes on each other. The most recent move was for two reasons related to the attack on a Kabul guest house on October 28.
Actually we didn't know about it until the day and then only because I was nosily reading somebody's papers through between the seats in front of us on our flight home from India. The severity only began to set in when we found we had to wait a few hours at the airport before the UN gave permission for a car to collect us. Then we learned that there had been a terrible complex attack and that a colleague of one of our housemates had been killed (leaving three children). The entire UN population of Kabul went on alert with rumors of suspicious surveillance. A few days later Sharky saw a Corolla full of five men staring at our gate and then we had a visitor ask if we had any vacancies for an NGO that he couldn't name. We reported these incidents and the UN Department of Safety and Security advised everybody in our house to move. While we were still making preparations we learned that most guest houses in Kabul - including ours - were suddenly about to lose their UNDSS security approval so we had no choice. We spent two more days there (alone) and then moved to the large and heavily protected UNOCA compound where I work. This suddenly meant that I can enjoy a safe 500m walk to work instead of an uncomfortably and theoretically two hours a day in an armored Land Cruiser. Sharky, however, now faces the long ride whenever she wants to go into town.
I'm going to try to blog more often.
Sharky and I are fine. We just flew into Kabul from India and did not know about yesterday's attacks on UN staff, but now we know a friend's friend was killed. More soon.
This is getting to be too much of a habit. There was another big bomb in Kabul this morning with rumors of ten dead. Sharky and I are safe and sound.
There was another horrible bomb attack today. I didn't hear this one but I was right there earlier in the day.
Sharky and I are fine.
There was another explosion near my office just now. Sharky and I are fine.
Afghanistan held National Immunization Days in January and March targeted 7.5 million children under 5 years of age for protection against various diseases including Polio. Although normal winter conditions blocked access to many districts with 702,000 children most of these were or will be protected later. Monitoring confirms that in the vast majority of covered districts the target of 95% coverage was achieved. Although Afghanistan is one of only four countries with significant polio problems, surveillance and treatment is generally well established. HOWEVER, the Taliban blocked access to districts with 226,000 eligible children. Nearly a quarter of a million Afghan children are denied access to routine polio protection by these fundamentalists.
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.
This report suggests the risks that peace loving Afghans face in parts of this country.
Information:
There are unconfirmed reports of members of ‘The Emirate-Islamic-Mojahedin-e-Herat’ having resorted to cutting off the ears of a resident in public at the above mentioned location [Hirat province] and time. It is understood that the victim suffered the AOG reprisal for having been discovered with a voter registration card on his person
Assessment:
The Emirate-Islamic-Mojahedin-e-Herat had issued warnings to the residents of Engil and Gozara districts a week earlier through a publication called ‘Hamsangaran’. The warning termed the process of ‘Voter Registration’ and its support by foreign forces as invalid. It further went on to demand that Muslims not participate in the election process and also issued a threat warning to individuals participating or working for the election process as proclaimed enemies and liable for the death punishment. Considering the lack of any official response to the incident and taking in view that the residents of Ingil and Gozara districts are under the strong influence of the AOG, this is the development of a serious threat, with the potential to effect NGO staff operating and residing in these areas.
Advisory:
NGO may keep all staff informed of this latest development. Staff may be advised to safeguard against the possibility of being discovered with any documentary or other evidence, on their person or their property which can go to indicate their involvement in the electoral process. Sanitizing of staff with regard to their association with the voter registration process - especially while travelling through these areas - is also advocated. ANSO shall monitor the situation and issue updates. Until the facts of the incident are confirmed, the threat merits serious consideration.
Three people (including two internationals) were killed in Kabul this morning. Ms S. and I are fine though.
There was an explostion at the Ministry of Interior in Kabul today that shook our house and broke some eggs but Ms S. and I are OK.
I've had a few people write to ask about the security situation here in Kabul and where I'll be travelling in Afghanistan.
The facts about abductions are interesting and not as bad as people seem to think.
In Afghanisan so far in 2007 there have been 142 abduction cases involving 350 people. Twenty seven of those people have been foreigners but 23 of those should be discounted. Those 23 were the special case of the South Koreans who were traveling in a known dangerous area with few security precautions, illegally evangelizing their Christian faith, and in the country without the blessing of their own government. (The Afghan government is also to blame for giving them visas.) I am extremely sorry that two of them were killed and relieved that the others were released but we can discount them from the representative statistics. In 2007 there have been four other international abductions - all of whom were released (although one died of a heart attack).
My organization is being careful not to provide a fifth victim. I think our rules are very appropriate - neither over reactions or carelessness. We do not have a curfew because it would not be relevant - the problems seem to happen in the daytime. We are not allowed to walk around Kabul and are not allowed in taxis. (We rely on our own driver or a reliable minicab company.) The rules in the other towns I've been to vary by situation - I was free to walk alone around Bamiyan but not Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat or Jalalabad. We get excellent reports and alerts from both a private security company and an international agency. We are careful but realistic - we need to be able to breathe to do our jobs.
I am touched by all the caring messages and encourage everybody not to worry. I'm enjoying my work and life and I'll be safe.
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