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UNAMA and government launch humanitarian appeal to prevent crisis
The Afghan government on Sunday launched the Joint Humanitarian Appeal with the United Nations to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan caused by escalated war and drought.
According to officials, 18.4 million Afghans are in need of humanitarian assistance.
“The appeal is to humanity to show that we can save people from hunger by working together,” said Khalid Payenda, acting minister of finance.
The UN and the Afghan government have both warned the country is facing a humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing war and drought.
Addressing a joint press conference on Sunday, UN officials in Afghanistan said that more than a third of all Afghans are facing food insecurity and a lack of water.
“More than one third of Afghans faced food insecurity and lack of water in 2021. Intensified war and insecurity increases demand for humanitarian needs,” said Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for UNAMA.
In a joint assessment, UNAMA and government found that more than 18 million Afghans are in need of humanitarian aid.
In addition to this, UNAMA and government found that at least half of all Afghan children under the age of five are at risk of malnutrition.
UNAMA said that $1.3 million is needed for humanitarian aid for the current year.
Afghan officials in turn said more help is needed.
“There is a need for a joint humanitarian appeal, as has been made by the Afghan government and the United Nations today so that a humanitarian crisis is prevented,” Payenda said.
This comes as Afghanistan is fighting an intensified war across large parts of the country and dealing with a drought while also battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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