KANDAHAR - The UN Country Team, led by UN envoy Mark Bowden, met this week in Kandahar with provincial governors along with civil society and other partners to assess the security, development, the humanitarian situation.

The visit, by senior representatives of UN humanitarian and development entities based in Afghanistan, included meetings with governors from Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan and Helmand to discuss UN activities.

Hamayoon Azizi, the Governor of Kandahar said that Kandahar, along with other provinces in the south, had suffered a great deal from 15 years of conflict.

Dr. Azizi indicated that further assistance from the UN in areas such as reconstruction, infrastructure, agriculture, education, good-governance, capacity building, implementation of rule of law and social justice was welcomed.

Mark Bowden, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that the UN will continue their assistance in the areas where it is effective.

Mr. Bowden said that he will share the issues raised by the four governor’s with international donors.

The UN delegation also met with civil society representatives, staff of local UN offices and officials, and visited a number of UN-backed projects in Kandahar.