4 November 2010 - UN Day was marked on Sunday 31 October in Gardez, the provincial capital of Paktya province.

The event under the banner of “UN Role in the Southeast Region” was aimed at raising people’s awareness of the activities of United Nations agencies in the region by providing UN agencies the opportunity to inform the people about their activities.

Organized by UNAMA-Southeast Region Strategic Communication Spokespersons Unit, the event was held at the municipality hall and was attended by students and teachers from Paktya University, Abdul Haye Gardezi Higher Secondary School, media correspondents and representatives of all UN agencies in the Southeast Region.

Addressing the event, Namik Heydarov of UNAMA Southeast Region’s Aid Coherence Unit said, “Since the very beginning, UN has remained very active in this country in one way or the other and is playing a major part in developing basic social services, sustainable livelihoods and infrastructure.”

“For this purpose, UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), UN-Children Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) and UN World Health Organization (UNWHO) are ever-present in various aspects of Afghanistan’s social and economic life,” added Mr Heydarov.

During the event, representatives of UN agencies in the Southeast Region presented their activities to the participants.

Mohammad Ismael Larway, an independent journalist said, “Today’s event revealed how much the UN agencies are closely working with the Afghan government, even providing its performance information to the general masses. As an Afghan, I expect other donor agencies functioning in the Southeast Region to coordinate their activities with and support the Afghan government.”

“For the first time when I listened during the UN Day celebration, I was delighted to learn about the UN. I learned much about the UN’s role and quenched my thirst of UN information,” said Islamuddin, a Paktya university student.

By Dilawar Khan Dilawar, UNAMA