Covid-19 underlies Afghanistan’s increased need of aid by the UN

Displaced afghans trying to fight off the cold Displaced afghans trying to fight off the cold Reuters/Mohammad Shoib

17 december 2020

As a result of the COVID-19 struggle, conflict and displacements put Afghanistan in a worsened state of humanitarian crisis

Whilst many countries across the globe go towards the process of vaccination and will sooner or later go back to a certain quality of life, Afghanistan is still battling not only against the pandemic, but with a concrete and existing humanitarian crisis.

In fact, according to WHO (World Health Organization) statistics, in Afghanistan, from 3 January to 17 December 2020, there were 49,927 confirmed cases of covid-19 with 2,017 deaths. However, the mortality rate is not the only worrying fact.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly alarming as a result of the compounded effects of war between the Talibans and the afghan government and the ongoing displacements to which 4,350,900 people fall victim. Out of the said people, 2.7 million are registered refugees, states Aljazeera. The impacts of the widespread pandemic and conflicts in a few regions of the nation are so unequivocally related that it is for all intents and purposes inconceivable to form a clear qualification around the ongoing uprooting. Undoubtedly, it is becoming less important to do so, as the uprooted are without a question helpless Afghans in need of security and help, who will not be able to return to their homes unless safety as well as access to nourishment and consumable water make strides in becoming available. As the situation doesn’t seem to improve, the acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ramesh Rajasingham claims the aid asked to the United Nations for support to target around 11 million people in 2020 will now be necessary for almost 16 million people. 

Consequently, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani not only has to deal with the evident desperation and starvation of his own people, but with the concrete and existing danger of new conflicts in the region due to the, hopefully temporary, impossibility of coming to a compromise with the Talibans. 

In fact, in September agents in the Afghan government and Taliban representatives gathered in Doha for the start of peace talks that would conclude 19 years of war and struggle. The talks took place six months after the signing of a Qatari-brokered pact outlining a plan for agreements. As the talks were suspended however, and will only resume on January 5, the outcome is yet to be seen.



To know more, please read:

Five million more Afghans will need help in 2021: UN | Humanitarian Crises News | Al Jazeera

‘Historic’ Afghanistan peace talks commence in Doha - Doha News

Afghanistan | Displacement (iom.int)

Afghanistan: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard | WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard

Afghan and Taliban Negotiators Agree on Peace Talks’ Procedures - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

Author: Benedetta Spizzichino Editor: Eleonora Gonnelli

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