World Leaders Must Act On ‘Make Or Break Moment’ For Afghanistan
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the world to take action during a 'make or break' moment for the country.
“If we do not act and help Afghans weather this storm, and do it soon, not only they but all the world will pay a heavy price”, he stated to journalists in New York ahead of Tuesday's G20 meeting.
"Without food, without jobs, without their rights protected, we will see more and more Afghans fleeing their homes in search of a better life. The flow of illicit drugs, criminal and terrorist networks will also likely increase”, he continued.
The UN, along with other NGOs, currently has an ongoing humanitarian operation in Afghanistan, to deliver life-saving aid and supplies ahead of the winter. The UN reports that in September alone, more than 3.8 million people received assistance including 21,000 children and 10,000 women who received treatment for acute malnutrition, and 32,000 people who received non-food items such as winter clothing and blankets.
The UN is working with the cooperation of the Taliban in order to reach those in need, stating that the Taliban "have progressively granted access to the areas requested and provided security when needed," and that "the number of incidents during humanitarian operations has been in constant decline".
Aside from expressing his concern over the country's humanitarian issues, the UN Chief further noted that whilst humanitarian assistance can save lives, it will not solve the problem if the Afghan economy collapses. Prior to the Taliban seizing power in August, Afghanistan relied heavily on foreign aid to keep its economy afloat. With assets currently frozen, development aid paused, and banks and essential services such as healthcare suspended in many places, the country is breaking down, he said.
The full press conference video can be accessed here.