U.N. staff in the capital are currently

U.N. staff in the capital are currently scattered in 93 guest houses, U.N. officials said.

The secretary-general said staff who survived the attack have been flown out of the country. He said movement business Air Dancerof all U.N. staff "remains restricted" and that staff "not directly engaged in critical, election-related duties are being encouraged to take leave" during the run-up to the election and the period immediately thereafter.

As of Oct. 15, there were 6,700 people working for the U.N. mission and all U.N. funds and programs in Afghanistan, including 1,100 international staff and 5,600 local staff, U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.

That includes more than 300 election staff from the U.N. Development Program whose work in support of the runoff is largely completed though some will be assisting the international observers during the runoff, UNDP spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"U.N. staff continue to help Afghans prepare for the run-off election," Ban said. "That includes pre-positioning election materials in the provinces."

Ban appealed to the General Assembly for an additional $50 million to beef up security at vulnerable U.N. locations, $25 million to assist the U.N. Department of Safety and Security meet new demands "in an increasingly dangerous world," and $10 million for a new fund to help victims and their families.

As he left the town hall meeting, Guy Candusso, one of the representatives on the U.N. Staff Union, said more resources are critical, but not enough.

Unless additional funds are coupled with a systemwide security policy encompassing all U.N. staff that is enforced by the secretary-general, "the result will be further deaths," he warned.

Associated Press Writers cheap Inflatable Tunnel Robert H. Reid in Kabul, Slobodan Lekic in Brussels, and Tamara Lush in Miami contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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