Afghanistan ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ looms after Taliban victory
- UN chief urges countries provide emergency funding for Afghanistan after departure of US forces
- Almost half of the population – 18 million people – need urgent humanitarian assistance to survive
The United Nations chief urged all nations to help the people of Afghanistan “in their darkest hour of need”, saying that almost half the population needs humanitarian assistance to survive and the country faces the threat of basic services collapsing completely.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “grave concern at the deepening humanitarian crisis in the country” in a statement on the first day of Taliban rule after the withdrawal of the last US forces from Afghanistan.
He offered some grim statistics of the looming “humanitarian catastrophe”: 18 million Afghans need aid to survive, one in three don’t know where their next meal will come from, over half of all children under age of five were expected to become “acutely malnourished” in the next year, and every day people are losing access to basic goods and services.
“Amid a severe drought and with harsh winter conditions on the horizon, extra food, shelter and health supplies must be urgently fast-tracked into the country,” Guterres said.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the current US$1.3 billion UN humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan was only 39 per cent funded. Guterres said a new emergency appeal for the next four months was expected next week.
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Taliban declares victory from Kabul airport after last US troops leave Afghanistan
“For us,” Dujarric said, “the day after is just another day in Kabul. We’ve been present in Afghanistan for over 60 years, and we are remaining and standing shoulder to shoulder with the Afghan people.”