SWITZERLAND. Geneva: The United Nations (UN) hosted a high-level donors humanitarian conference on Monday to accumulate emergency funds for Afghanistan. Last month insurgent group Taliban took over the country that shook the world.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was leading the world body’s call for more than $600 million for the rest of this year in a “flash appeal” for Afghans after Afghanistan’s government was captured by the Taliban. The U.S. and NATO forces exited the 20-year war in a chaotic departure.
Instability, ongoing drought, and lack of proper humanitarian efforts are a matter of concern for Afghanistan now. As per the reports, the ongoing drought could further endanger lives and plunge Afghanistan toward famine.
The conference will put to the test some Western governments and other big traditional U.N. donors who want to help Afghanistan without handing a public relations victory or cash to the Taliban, who ousted the internationally-backed government in a lightning sweep. Along with its partners, the U.N. is seeking $1.1 billion for the rest of the year to help 11 million people. “Recent developments have increased the vulnerability of people in Afghanistan who have already been facing decades of deprivation and violence. A severe drought is jeopardizing the upcoming harvest, and hunger has been rising. The U.N.’s World Food Program is to be a major beneficiary of any funds collected during Monday’s conference,” the UN said.
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The head of the U.N. refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, made a previously unannounced visit to Kabul. In a tweet, he said that he would assess humanitarian needs and the situation of 3.5 million displaced Afghans — including over 500,000 who have been displaced this year alone. The Taliban on Tuesday expressed appreciation to the countries that pledged humanitarian support to Afghanistan and said that the group will coordinate with them, TOLO news reported.
Meanwhile, officials at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have expressed concerns that some people could try to seek refuge in what have been traditional havens for fleeing Afghans in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. The outgoing Afghanistan government’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said on Tuesday that the Taliban have already broken their promises to safeguard women and protect human rights, and the international community must hold them to account.
