Number Of UN Staff Killed In Line Of Duty Doubled In 2011

An Afghan policeman stands guard near the wreckage of a burned-out vehicle at UN headquarters in Mazar-e-Sharif after it was attacked in April.

UNITED NATIONS -- United Nations staff members were the primary target in several terror attacks during 2011, with more than twice as many personnel killed than in the previous year.

In a statement, the UN Staff Union said a total of 35 UN workers were killed last year, including 25 civilians, nine peacekeepers, and a military advisor.

Four security guards who worked for the UN were also killed.

In 2010, 15 UN workers lost their lives in the line of duty.

Staff Union President Barbara Tavora-Jainchill accused the UN of "not doing enough to protect its personnel," saying, "One life lost is one life too many."

Two of the three worst attacks of the year took place in Afghanistan.

On April 1, three staff members were killed in Mazar-e-Sharif when the regional UN compound was attacked. Four internationally contracted security guards were also killed.

On October 31, three Afghan employees of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees were killed when suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a compound in Kandahar