UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanked Pakistan and seven other countries for their support of continuing UN operations in Afghanistan, which is facing a major humanitarian crisis.
“The Secretary-General is indeed very grateful for the generosity of member states – including Pakistan, Denmark, Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Poland, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United States — who have made available facilities and arrangements in support of continuing UN operations in Afghanistan,” his Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
“With their offers and commitments, they have made a great contribution to the safety and security, operational delivery, and overall continuity of UN activities,” Dujarric told reporters.
The spokesman said that UN humanitarian officials in Afghanistan have warned that the war-torn country is facing a food insecurity and malnutrition crisis. A third of the population — more than 12 million people — are acutely food insecure and their situation is expected to be greatly worsened by the drought – which has impacted a third of the country.
The officials, according to the spokesman, noted that as an economic crisis looms, job opportunities also remain limited across the country. They added that the 2021 harvest is expected to be below average, and the next lean season is expected to be more intense and arrive earlier.
There is also a need to address water scarcity to prevent displacement and reduce hunger, it was pointed out. At the beginning of 2021, nine million people were already in need of water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance in Afghanistan.
“Along with our humanitarian partners, we have been working to respond to the impacts of low rainfall on water availability, crop yields, agricultural labour opportunities, as well as affordability of food since the beginning of the year,” Dujarric said.
In the first six months of the year, he said the UN has provided food and livelihood assistance to more than 5.5 million people, many of whom are in drought impacted areas, but much more is needed.
UN CONVENES INT’L AID MOOT FOR AFGHANISTAN ON 13TH: In a bid to help avert what UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called a “looming humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan, the United Nations has decided to convene an international aid conference in Geneva on September 13.
Taking to Twitter, UN Chief Antonio Guterres announced the conference that he said would seek a swift scale-up in funding for humanitarian relief.
“I will convene a high-level humanitarian conference for Afghanistan on September 13 to advocate for a swift scale-up in funding and full, unimpeded access to those in need,” he said.
“We need the international community to stand together and support the Afghan people,” Guterres wrote. “We also appeal for full and unimpeded humanitarian access to make sure Afghans continue to get the essential services they need,” he said.
He said, “Now more than ever, Afghan children, women and men need support and solidarity from the international community.”
Many Afghans were struggling to feed their families amid severe drought well before Taliban seized power last month and millions may now face starvation with the country isolated and the economy unravelling, aid agencies say.
“The United Nations stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and is committed to staying and delivering for them,” said Guterres.
