Antonio Guterres says about half of Afghan people urgently need help to survive after the Taliban take over.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of an impending disaster in Afghanistan as he calls for emergency funding after the recent withdrawal of US troops and troops. a complete overthrow of the Taliban.
Guterres on Tuesday expressed “his deep concern for the country’s economic and social development”, adding that initial operations threatened to collapse “completely”.
“Now more than ever, children in Afghanistan, women and men need help and international cooperation,” he said in a statement asking for help from other countries.
“I urge all member states to dig deeper into the Afghan people in their time of need. I urge them to provide temporary, flexible and adequate funding,” the UN Secretary-General said.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric says the current $ 1.3bn UN complaint in Afghanistan is increasing by only 39%.
Guterres announced that the UN would file a complaint in Afghanistan next week.
The statement will outline the “most recent human and financial needs” needs for the next four months, he said.
Secretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Sector Martin Griffiths will coordinate the “entire UN system” in preparing the appeal, Guterres added.
He said about half of Afghan people – 18 million people – needed urgent help to survive.
“One in three Afghan people do not know where they will get their next meal. More than half of children under the age of five are expected to suffer from malnutrition next year.”
“People are losing out on basic necessities. The tragedy of compassion is imminent, “said Guterres.
He also said that the severe drought and severe cold meant excess food, shelter and medical treatment “must be urgently pursued” in Afghanistan.
“I call on all parties to help secure and uninterrupted access to life and livelihoods, as well as all aid workers – both men and women,” he said.
Guterres said the commitment of aid agencies to remain in Afghanistan and provide assistance “would not work”.
The international community has expelled hundreds of people from Afghanistan before leaving the US, which ended Tuesday. The workers have been temporarily relocated to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s capital city, to work remotely.
Guterres stressed the need to ensure that Kabul’s international airport remains open for US exit to facilitate greater deliveries.