UN warns of looming “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan ahead of Taliban takeover

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned of impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan and urged countries to provide emergency funds after the departure of US forces.

“I urge all Member States to conduct a thorough investigation for the Afghan people in their darkest times.. I urge you to provide timely, flexible and comprehensive funding, ”the secretary general said in a statement.

“Today more than ever, Afghan children, women and men need the support and solidarity of the international community,” he said in a statement, while pleading for the financial support of nations .

Guterres announced that UN to release details of Afghanistan flash appeal next week.

The information will detail the “most immediate humanitarian and funding needs” needed over the next four months, he said.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, coordinate “the whole United Nations system” in the preparation of the appealGuterres added.

He said nearly half of the Afghan population, 18 million people, needs urgent humanitarian assistance to survive.

“One in three Afghans doesn’t know where their next meal will come from. More than half of children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in the next yearThe report says.

“People lose access to basic goods and services every day. A humanitarian catastrophe loomssaid Guterres.

He added that the severe drought and harsh winter conditions looming mean that additional supplies of food, shelter and health care “must be urgently shipped” to Afghanistan.

“I call on all parties to facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to vital and durable supplies, as well as to all humanitarian workers, men and women.“, noted.

Guterres said the commitment of humanitarian agencies to stay in Afghanistan and provide aid “will not falter.”

On the other hand, The US State Department issued a Level 4 travel alert for Afghanistan on Tuesday, asking its citizens not to travel to the country after they withdraw from the Asian country..

In the alert, posted on the State Department’s website, the United States government indicates riots, armed conflict, terrorism, risk of kidnapping and COVID-19 as reasons not to go to Afghanistan.

“Traveling to all the regions that make up Afghanistan is not safe“, He indicated, before stressing that the risks for the American citizens to be kidnapped or to undergo violence are” high “.

State Department recalled that the United States embassy in Kabul suspended operations on TuesdayBut he guaranteed that he would continue to help American citizens and their families living in Afghanistan from Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Besides, Washington clarified on Tuesday that equipment abandoned in Kabul after the final withdrawal of troops is “deactivated”, after local media broadcast footage of the Taliban entering the airport and even aboard US planes.

“They can inspect anything they want. They can watch it, but they can’t fly it. “, explained in statements to CNN Pentagon spokesman John Kirby for footage from some of the already deserted military hangars at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Yes indeed, noted that air and ground equipment were “disabled”except for the trucks and elevators that were needed to keep the airport operational until moments before the evacuation, which went into effect Monday evening.

The international evacuation campaign launched after the Taliban conquest of Kabul on August 15 has enabled more than 100,000 people, but Kirby pointed out that they continue to “concernedFor those who have been left behind, some of them of American nationality.

He wanted to send them all the message that “Although the military mission is over, the engagement of the United States does not“. the growing activity of the Islamic State branch.

(With information from Europa Press and AFP)

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