The United Nations along with governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, and Qatar will host an international pledging conference in support of the humanitarian response in Afghanistan on March 31.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released a statement saying that the Afghan people are facing food insecurity and a malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan.
The statement further said that those experiencing acute hunger in Afghanistan will reach 23 million in March 2022. The number was 14 million in July 2021.
“I urge Member States to dig deep for the people of Afghanistan at this time, and to continue their generous support to these life-saving efforts,” said Ramiz Alakbarov, the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative.
According to the statement, 95 percent of the population is not eating enough food in Afghanistan and that percentage is rising to almost 100 percent for female-headed households.
Meanwhile, officials of the interim government welcome holding this meeting at the end of March, stating these meetings are expected to positively impact Afghanistan’s crisis.
“This is a positive and important movement, the required cooperation must be done with Afghans,” said Bilal Karimi, a deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.
“This would be a positive step, if implemented. we need action. If it is just a promise, it would destroy trust,” said Sayed Massoud, a university professor.
The UN statement also referred to the banking and financial crisis inside Afghanistan, saying eighty percent of the population is facing debt and an increase in food and fuel prices.
Meanwhile, aid was distributed to at least 50 families of Islamic emirate members and former government forces who died in previous conflicts.
The aid was distributed to needy families after a survey, head of a charity organization in Herat, Amir Mohammad Wasiq, said. “We distributed food items including flour, rice and oil,” he said. “We will continue our efforts to help more families.”
The families said that they have been struggling with difficult conditions.
“I don’t have food, water and winter cloth. I have no one. I have the responsibility for taking care of five orphans,” said a member of a slain soldier’s family. “My cousin was martyred. This aid is provided to his family,” said Khuda Rahim, a relative of the Islamic Emirate member who has also died in battle.
Tens of thousands of former security force members lost their lives in conflicts in the past two decades. A similar number of Islamic Emirate forces have died in the conflicts as estimates show.—Tolonews
