KABUL - Two weeks after he reinstated the United Nations Mazar-i-Sharif operations centre, the top United Nations official in Afghanistan today reiterated the Organization’s commitment to safety and paid homage to colleagues lost in Mazar and around the world.

“The more we think about what if, the better. There is no more perception that the UN flag is protected,” Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head o f the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told about fifty Afghan and international staff members gathered to watch the HBO documentary, Sergio.

Shown for the first time in Afghanistan, the film recounts the story of UN envoy to Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello who was among 21 people killed when Al Qaeda detonated a truck bomb outside of the UN compound on 19 August 2003. Dozens of other people were injured in the attack. The day is honoured annually as World Humanitarian Day.

The bombing was the first direct attack against the United Nations and contributed to the Organization pulling out of Iraq.

In his opening remarks, Mr de Mistura noted the 1 April 2011 attack in Mazar where three international staff and four security guards were slain.

“We will never forget our colleagues who died in Mazar and in Baghdad,” he said.

The Special Representative has reiterated that despite the Mazar attack, the UN would not leave Afghanistan.

“The United Nations will remain here, the UN has been in Afghanistan for decades,” he told members of the members of the Provincial Committee of the High Peace Council in July. Click here to read the full story.

By UNAMA Kabul