Afghanistan still has a dire humanitarian crisis, a senior aid official said
Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Deputy Special Envoy and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, updated journalists in New York on developments in a country where 28 million people now depend on aid to survive.
Great humanitarian needs
“Afghanistan dies the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in 2023despite, of course, the recent devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria,” he said, speaking via videolink from the capital, Kabul.
The UN and partners are seeking $4.6 billion this year to help the Afghan population.
Mr. Alakbarov reported that in the past 18 months, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined by 35 percent, the price of a basic food basket rose by 30 percent and unemployment by 40 percent.
In addition, approx 75 percent that people’s income is now spent just on food.
Advocate for girls
Meanwhile, the UN continues to engage with those so true Taliban leaders behind laws that ban girls from going to high school and women from working with local and international aid agencies on the ground.
“I regret saying that to this day we have not seen any news or encouraging developments regarding girls’ education,” said Mr. Alakbarov. “The UN continues to advocate for this.”
Regarding humanitarian work, he noted that the Taliban had made exceptions for women’s participation in the areas of health and education after a visit by UN relief chief Martin Griffiths last month.
“Health sector exemptions on women’s participation include not only the delivery of medical services in facilities, but also scientific support, community health services and food. And it applies to all women working in offices, hospitals, health centers, or mobile teams,” he said.
Differences in education
The situation is similar for female teachers, including in the provision of community-based education by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Although applicable at the national level, there are “more local solutions” which vary from region to region.
“Local solutions are always within the framework of what is the situation on the ground – that is the availability of.” mahram (male caregivers), the presence of gender-segregated transportation, and the use of chador or hijab,” he said.
interference and assurances
We asked Mr. Alakbarov about the Taliban’s interference in the delivery of aid. He said that distributions have been stopped in “severe cases”, which occurred in at least two districts in the past four months. They resume once the issues are addressed.
“Most of the revenue events and what leads to the temporary suspension of programs these days, are related to directives against Afghan women working for national and international NGOsand related things,” he said.
“It is not related to security issues, and we continue to enjoy good physical access throughout the country,” he added.
Mr. Alakbarov also faced a question on how the UN ensures that funding is not diverted to the Taliban. It explains some of the risk management and mitigation strategies in place, such as payment verification systems and third party monitoring.
Full human rights
In addition, beneficiaries can also communicate with the UN through hotlines and other methods, including “to raise complaints, or raise alarms, or be gossip.”
The senior aid worker was also asked about the reported divisions between the Taliban leadership over education and human rights restrictions, but did not think it would help to comment.
Instead, he emphasized the need for those so true authorities to ensure that Afghan girls and women have the right to be full members of society, which includes being able to work, get an education, and access health and other services.
