The United Nations today reported that it would evacuate much of its international staff from Afghanistan for at least a few weeks, due to rising violence.

Last week, five UN staff members were killed and several others were injured in an attack in Kabul. UN officials cited the attack - as well as the prospect of future attacks - as the reason for the evacuation.

“Effective immediately, the United Nations is taking additional steps to reduce risks to its national and international staff serving in Afghanistan," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement. "This is in light of the 28 October attack against UN staff in Kabul as well as further ongoing threats."

The UN reported that 600 of its 1,100 staff members in the country would be relocated to other parts of Afghanistan or out of the country, according to the New York Times.

The evacuations could complicate President Obama's Afghanistan strategy, which depends on civilian workers to support the troop buildup. Since Obama took office, US troop numbers in Afghanistan have doubled.

It is unclear what impact the UN evacuations will have on Obama's upcoming decision on whether to send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

--Maya Schenwar