Devaki Shrestha
Probably this was the first of such attack targeting UN staff's resident in Kabul on 28th October 2009, Afghanistan. I woke up early morning around 6.00 am from my guest house resident's mobile call, who was also my UN colleague; He asked me whether I heard the gun shoot in that moment. Gun shoot was so common in the country that we used to hear the sound thinking that it might be somewhere targeted Government offices or anti government agents (AGA). Instead I asked him what happened and where was the attack? He scared me telling me the gun shoot was on and fire coming out of one of the UN cleared Guest house close to our guest house and asked me to turn on my TV.I was scared and at the same time I turned on TV and saw thick smoke coming out from a building broadcasted live by Alzazeera TV, CNN and BBC as well and the caption tells "one of the UN cleared private guest house was under attack by the gunfighter, where most of the UN residents were staying". I was so much scared and the situation stunned me. The hot live news broadcasted by the TV channels made worry to the family members back home so that most of the guest house-mates including myself received calls from their family and friends. It was also because of the similar name of our Guest house, named "Bastan" whilst the GH under fire was named as "Bakhtiar". So many people were confused to learn the incident back home. After few hours, UN security Officers of the respective UN agencies issued security advisory to their staffs all over Kabul to stay inside the GH and informed about the white city which means no movement and people (UN staffs) were advised to stay home with attentive to their radio and mobile messages. In one side we were scared about the incident and in other way we were gathering inside the Guest house just watching the television news. It was said 4 UN staff were killed in the incident. Most of the residents were fast asleep as the incident happened early morning around 5.30 before the people leave the guest house for their offices. The attackers entered the Guest house by disguised in armed security people and thus able to enter the building threatening the guard at the gate.
Probably this was the first of such attack targeting UN staff's resident in Kabul on 28th October 2009, Afghanistan. I woke up early morning around 6.00 am from my guest house resident's mobile call, who was also my UN colleague; He asked me whether I heard the gun shoot in that moment. Gun shoot was so common in the country that we used to hear the sound thinking that it might be somewhere targeted Government offices or anti government agents (AGA). Instead I asked him what happened and where was the attack? He scared me telling me the gun shoot was on and fire coming out of one of the UN cleared Guest house close to our guest house and asked me to turn on my TV.I was scared and at the same time I turned on TV and saw thick smoke coming out from a building broadcasted live by Alzazeera TV, CNN and BBC as well and the caption tells "one of the UN cleared private guest house was under attack by the gunfighter, where most of the UN residents were staying". I was so much scared and the situation stunned me. The hot live news broadcasted by the TV channels made worry to the family members back home so that most of the guest house-mates including myself received calls from their family and friends. It was also because of the similar name of our Guest house, named "Bastan" whilst the GH under fire was named as "Bakhtiar". So many people were confused to learn the incident back home. After few hours, UN security Officers of the respective UN agencies issued security advisory to their staffs all over Kabul to stay inside the GH and informed about the white city which means no movement and people (UN staffs) were advised to stay home with attentive to their radio and mobile messages. In one side we were scared about the incident and in other way we were gathering inside the Guest house just watching the television news. It was said 4 UN staff were killed in the incident. Most of the residents were fast asleep as the incident happened early morning around 5.30 before the people leave the guest house for their offices. The attackers entered the Guest house by disguised in armed security people and thus able to enter the building threatening the guard at the gate.
No comments:
Post a Comment