Ramiz Alakbarov, United Nations Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, updated journalists in New York on developments in a country where 28 million people now depend on aid. to exist.
Great humanitarian need
“Afghanistan remains the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis in 2023of course, despite the recent devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria,” he said via video link from the capital Kabul.
The United Nations and partners are seeking $4.6 billion this year to support the people of Afghanistan.
Mr. Alakbarov reports that in the past 18 months, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has decreased by 35%, the cost of a basic food basket has increased by 30% and the unemployment rate has increased by 40%.
In addition, roughly 75 percent People’s income is now spent only on food.
Advocacy for girls
Meanwhile, the UN continues to engage with the in fact The Taliban government in the aftermath of the decrees banned girls from high school and women from working with local and international aid agencies on the ground.
“I regret to say that so far we have not seen any news or any encouraging developments regarding girls’ education,” said Mr. Alakbarov. “The United Nations continues to advocate for this.”
Regarding humanitarian work, he noted that the Taliban made exceptions for women’s participation in the health and education sectors following a visit by the head of the United Nations aid agency Martin Griffiths in last month.
“Health sector exemptions for women’s participation include not only the provision of health services in facilities, but also psychological support, community-based health and nutrition activities. . And it applies to all women working in offices, hospitals, medical centers or mobile teams,” he said.
Differences in education
The situation is similar for female teachers, including the delivery of community-based education through non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While applicable at the national level, there are “more local solutions” that vary from province to province.
“Those local solutions are always within the framework of the real situation – that is the availability of Boss (male guardian), availability of sex-disaggregated transportation and adoption of chador or headscarf,” he said.
Intervention and assurance
Mr. Alakbarov was asked about the Taliban’s interference in the aid delivery. He said distribution had been halted in “severe cases”, which occurred in at least two provinces in the past four months. They continued after the issues were resolved.
“Most of the access issues and what leads to programs being temporarily suspended these days are regarding directives against Afghan women working for national and international NGOsand related issues,” he said.
“It’s not related to security issues and we continue to have pretty good physical access across the country,” he added.
Alakbarov also answered a question about how the United Nations ensures funding is not diverted to the Taliban. He outlined some of the existing risk mitigation and management mechanisms, such as third-party monitoring and payment verification systems.
Full human rights
In addition, beneficiaries can also contact the United Nations through hotlines and other means, including “to make a complaint, or to raise an alarm or to be a whistleblower.”
The senior aid official was also asked about reported divisions within the Taliban leadership over the humanitarian and educational bans, but he didn’t think it would be helpful to comment.
Instead, he emphasized the need for in fact authorities to ensure that Afghan girls and women have the right to full membership in society, including the ability to work, to be educated and to access health care and other services .
