KANDAHAR - Kandahar Governor, Dr Toryali Wesa requested the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan (DSRSG), Mr. Mark Bowden to give more authority to the UN agencies in Kandahar province. This was stated by Mr. Wesa in a meeting with Mr Bowden at Kandahar Governor’s office on Thursday.

“On many occasions, when we request for emergency humanitarian assistance from the UN agencies in Kandahar, they present an excuse that they have to seek permission from their headquarters in Kabul and that they don't have the authority. The UN activities in Kandahar before the conflict years were very positive and mostly their work was sustainable and had a long-term vision. However, with the arrival of war and conflict, the quality of the UN work has declined tremendously and their focus turned to short-term projects, which doesn’t heal the wounds of the people,” Mr. Wesa stated in his remarks.

He requested that UN should revisit their strategy and should turn their focus to long-term projects and also train people in professional fields.

Currently, the poppy cultivation is a major issue and most farmers grow it due to compulsion and if the United Nations explore international markets for agriculture products of Kandahar and purchase local products, the farmers will stop poppy cultivation, Wesa added.

While explaining the purpose of his visit to Kandahar, Mr Mark Bowden said that it has been only a couple of months since he has taken charge of this position and he is visiting Kandahar in order to monitor the UN activities in Kandahar and listen to the recommendations and proposals of the local authorities.

“I have received information that Southern Region is the most neglected region in the country and little attention has been paid to address this issue. During my tenure, I will try to reverse this phenomenon and will enhance contacts with my staff in the region,” said Mr Bowden.

I will try to work out how to give more authority to the UN agencies and explore markets for local agriculture products both inside and outside the country, Bowden added.

“We will try to extend our activities to the villages during the transition phase,” Bowden added.

Source: Kandahar (Radio and TV) Headlines