Afghanistan: Cost of insecurity impedes humanitarian work - analysis

Armoured vehicles, armed escorts, blast-resistant walls and other security measures have made humanitarian work in Afghanistan more expensive and risky than ever before, say analysts. Movement of humanitarian convoys and protection of staff and facilities have also become costly and challenging because of widespread attacks and threats. "Due to insecurity in some regions of the country, WFP [the UN World Food Programme] has had to take extra measures to ensure the safety of its staff, as well as the safe delivery of its food, and these have related costs," Susannah Nicol, WFP's information officer in Kabul, told IRIN. In 2008, 30 attacks on WFP food aid convoys were reported, resulting in the loss of 1,200MT of food, valued at US$700,000. So far this year, 12 attacks have been reported with a loss of 42MT of aid, WFP said. Attacks on humanitarian convoys–which were uncommon in the past - have increasingly discouraged commercial truck drivers from transporting aid to the volatile south and east of Afghanistan. Drivers who still do the job demand more money, armed escorts and no identifying insignia.