By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- After a briefing on the situation in Afghanistan November 6, the Security Council issued a statement singling out the "misrule of the Taliban" as "the underlying cause of the dire humanitarian circumstances in the country."

In a statement issued by Council President Patricia Durrant of Jamaica, UN Security Council members expressed grave concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation as well as "the continued obstruction of the Taliban to the provision of humanitarian assistance.

"They deplored the looting of United Nations offices and the Taliban's take-over of humanitarian aid sites, including food and supply warehouses," said Durrant. "They noted that the United Nations and its agencies were the main providers of humanitarian relief inside Afghanistan and called on the Taliban not to impede the work of these agencies."

During the private UNSC session, members were briefed by Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima who said that the United Nations' biggest problem in Afghanistan is the distribution of food to local communities, but the delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance was continuing despite difficult circumstances.

Oshima warned the Council that there will likely be a gap between the minimum aid required for the country and the amount that the UN can actually ship and distribute. Nevertheless, he said that plans are being put in place to ensure that relief supplies are delivered in anticipation of the coming winter.

Council President Durrant also said that the Council members urge humanitarian workers "to continue to do all possible to assist the most vulnerable people of Afghanistan, in particular women, children and the elderly."

"They also stressed the need to continue to find innovative ways of delivering much needed supplies to the region and distributing aid to those in need," she said. "Members urged the international community to continue its financial support for these efforts and appealed for accelerated disbursement of funds pledged."

In her annual report to the General Assembly's Third Committee November 6, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson also addressed the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, saying that she is concerned about the plight of civilians, especially the millions of women, children, and older persons.

"I am particularly concerned at the prospect of retaliatory killings and other abuses of civilians, if territory changes hands. I am no less preoccupied by the appalling humanitarian situation, which constitutes deprivation of such fundamental rights as those of access to food, shelter, and medical care," Robinson said. "The scale of deprivation is very serious given the imminent approach of winter and the effect of the severe drought that has hit Afghanistan over the last three years."

The high commissioner also blamed the "climate of impunity which has prevailed for so long in Afghanistan" for the current human rights situation.

"It is essential that Afghanistan be assisted in ensuring accountability for the series of massacres and other grave human rights and humanitarian law abuses perpetrated in recent years," she said.