UN seeks US$5 billion aid for Afghanistan, now on brink of ‘full-blown humanitarian catastrophe’
- Afghanistan’s economy collapsed after the chaotic withdrawal of the US and its allies and the takeover by Taliban
- Washington has frozen billions of dollars of the country’s assets, while aid supplies have been heavily disrupted
The United Nations has launched its biggest ever appeal – for over US$5 billion to help 22 million Afghans whose country is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse as well as 5.7 million Afghan refugees in five neighbouring countries.
The UN said the appeal will be followed by a pledging conference in mid-March. But a number of nations announced new funding, including an additional US$308 million from the United States and US$500,000 from Israel, and there were indications that more funds will be coming from other mainly Western nations.
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, who called the campaign “the largest ever appeal”, said statements during the two-hour hybrid launch event on Tuesday were “encouraging” because there is a high degree of consensus on the increasingly desperate needs of the Afghan people.
The Afghan appeal for 2021 was the best-funded, he said, and “we are confident that member states solidarity and generosity will come through in 2022”.
02:34
Drought linked to climate change deepens suffering in Afghanistan
The issue of helping the Afghan people has been complicated by the Taliban takeover of the country in August as US and Nato forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years.