Red Cross to reduce presence, activities in Afghanistan

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - A Geneva-based humanitarian organization on Monday announced to drastically reduce its presence and activities in war-riddled Afghanistan.

According to head of delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the decision was taken following rise of militant attacks on the organization.

“After 30 years of continuous presence in the country, we are reducing our presence and operations. But let’s be very clear, we are not leaving Afghanistan,” Monica Zanarelli, head of delegation for the ICRC in Afghanistan, said in a news conference.

“Since December 2016, the ICRC has been directly targeted in northern Afghanistan three times, including in what we considered one of our safest facilities, the rehabilitation center in Mazar-i-Sharif.”

In September, a female Spanish physiotherapist associated with the ICRC was killed by a patient in Afghanistan’s northern Balk province. Just two weeks before the tragic incident occurred, the ICRC announced rather pleasant news that two of its staff members -- who were abducted in February in Jawzjan province -- have been released.

In February, pro-Daesh terrorists in the restive Jawzjan province attacked the ICRC convoy in the Qosh Tapa area, killing six aid workers and abducting two others.

In December 2016, an ICRC staff member was abducted in Kunduz province, and released four weeks later.

Abduction and kidnapping of foreigners in particular is a recurring phenomenon in Afghanistan involving both the militant factions as well as criminal syndicates.

Zanarelli said ICRC’s offices in Maimana and Kunduz cities in northern Afghanistan will be closed, while its sub-delegation in Mazar-i-Sharif city will be seriously downsized. She added activities in rest of the country would also being reviewed.

The ICRC officials said up to 120 foreign and around 1,800 Afghans are currently working for the organization.