Afghanistan: for the UN, we must “discuss with the de facto authorities” to facilitate humanitarian aid

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, on Monday inaugurated the international conference on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, warning that this country is facing its “The most dangerous hours” and it needs more international help to overcome them.

“It is time for the international community to be with them“Said Guterres, who clarified that even before power in Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban, the country already knew “One of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.”

Conference aims to raise $ 606 million from the international community, at a time when, recalls Guterres, one in three Afghans “does not know when their next meal will be” and hundreds of thousands of people have had to leave their homes.

The conference ended with commitments over $ 1 billion, which for Guterres “completely” covers the previous expectations with which this forum was convened. The European Union had already increased humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to 200 million euros before the appointment in 2021, while the Spanish government has announced a contribution of 20 million euros. The United States has pledged nearly $ 64 million, while Norway has pledged an additional $ 11.5 million.

The UN chief said the eternal conflict in that country has been joined in recent months by a Severe drought, the second the country has seen in the past five years, which threatens to ruin crops and leave millions of Afghans without food at the end of the month, with the harsh winter in sight.

Guterres clarified that the de facto Taliban regime, still without international recognition, “He pledged to cooperate to ensure that the Afghan people are assisted” and in this regard called for United Nations workers and associated agencies to continue to work safely in the country “Without harassment or intimidation.”

“It is impossible to provide humanitarian aid in Afghanistan without speaking to the country’s de facto authorities. I think it’s very important to talk to the Taliban right nowGuterres said at a press conference on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting in Geneva that will raise more than $ 600 million in aid to humanitarian organizations in the country.

The UN Secretary General also recalled that the women and girls of Afghanistan “they want to make sure that their progress is not lost, that the doors are not closed and that the hopes are not dashed“, in order to preserve the”new generation of businesswomen and leaders who have thrived over the past two decades”.

Guterres announced that the UN would release $ 20 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to support the humanitarian operation in Afghanistan. But he stressed that more money was needed, and quickly.

Several heads of UN agencies and other aid agencies echoed this sentiment. “We could have massive migration, destabilization in the region and, most certainly, famine among millions of Afghans“Warned David Beasley, head of the World Food Program, urging countries to”Please step up, step up now so we can do our job”.

Filippo Grandi, director of the United Nations Refugee Agency, addressed the conference via video link from Kabul, and urged donors to provide flexible funding to address a rapidly evolving displacement crisis in the country.

And the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, recently arrived from Afghanistan, said that “the magnitude of the need is obvious“, And warned that”the risk of destabilizing the whole region is real”.

The UN Chief of Humanitarian Affairs, Martin griffiths, who also visited Kabul last week, told Monday’s conference that the Taliban had committed in writing to protect aid workers, as well as to respect the rights of women and minorities, within the limits of religion.

But on the ground, they have acted quickly to crush dissent and there are worrying signs when it comes to women’s rights. “Contrary to assurances that the Taliban is defending women’s rights, over the past three weeks women have been gradually excluded from the public sphere.”The head of UN rights, Michelle Bachelet, told the UN Human Rights Council on Monday. He also denounced the “credible accusations“Retaliatory killings of former members of the security forces, and the”increased violence against protesters and journalists”.

(With information from EFE and AFP)

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