It is the first time that the UN has asked for a sum as large as $5 billion for an aid package directed to a single country. While the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths asked the international community for $4.4 billion to fund health workers through the Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, called for an additional sum of $623 million to support displaced Afghans that are now located beyond the country’s borders. Currently, five neighbouring countries are offering shelter to the millions of people who fled from the humanitarian catastrophe that is looming upon their homes.

Since the Taliban seized control of the country, following the withdrawal of US troops, the international community imposed heavy sanctions upon the de facto government: a move that disrupted aid supplies aimed at the population in need. Moreover, Afghanistan is also suffering from its worst drought in 27 years. In order to alleviate the situation, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on 22 December 2021, allowing all humanitarian aid to reach Afghanistan without sending funds to the Taliban directly. According to the UNICEF chief, the country is about to face the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world due to the high number of people on the verge of starvation as well as the number of internally displaced people. Accordingly, the largest aid appeal ever is needed.

While calling for the help of the entire international community, UN authorities are also trying to hold talks with the Taliban on the importance of respecting the basic human rights of the population, especially regarding the rights of minorities such as women and children.

To read more, please visit:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109492

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/11/un-wants-5-bn-aid-for-afghanistan-in-2022

https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sc14750.doc.htm

Author: Martina Apicella; Editor: Aleksandra Krol