Afghanistan: UN aid chief calls on countries to resume development aid

The United Nations aid chief has recently called on countries to resume providing development aid for Afghanistan. The call to resume aid comes as nations paused providing aid to the country that is going through a worsening economic and humanitarian crisis.

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths has called on nations to resume providing development aid for Afghanistan Monday. Griffiths cited the worsening poverty and famine that would affect millions of people, especially children who would be at risk of malnutrition.

“Poverty is deepening, the population is still growing, and the de facto authorities have no budget to invest in their own future. It’s clear to us that some development support needs to be restarted,” said Griffiths.

Griffiths said that more than half of Afghanistan’s population of 39 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, and six million others are at risk of famine. Griffiths added that more than one million children are “estimated” to be suffering from severe malnutrition and could die if not treated.

“Afghanistan’s de facto authorities must also do their part. Bureaucratic interferences and procedures slow down humanitarian assistance when it is needed most. Female humanitarian aid workers…must be allowed to work unhindered and securely and girls must be allowed to continue their education,” said Griffiths.

Afghanistan has been reliant on development aid which was cut when the international community demanded that the insurgent group uphold human rights, especially the rights of women and girls. The Taliban is also still subject to international sanctions, which the UN and aid groups say are now hindering humanitarian operations in the country.

Amidst the economic and humanitarian crisis, the Taliban celebrated one year since the United States and other countries withdrew their military forces from Afghanistan. The insurgent group set off fireworks in the capital Kabul Tuesday night, calling the day “Freedom Day.”

Afghanistan’s labor ministry also said the Taliban declared Wednesday, August 3 as a public holiday to mark the day.

At the time of the withdrawal last year, the US Central Command said there was “a lot of heartbreak” associated with the withdrawal. Unable to anticipate the insurgent group’s speed in taking over Kabul, the US and its NATO allies were forced into withdrawing quickly.