Afghanistan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in 2023 even as Climate change and economic downturn continue to fuel the crisis in the country.
“Afghanistan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in 2023, notwithstanding, of course, the recent devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria,” said UN Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov.
he stressed that Climate change and economic downturn continue to fuel the crisis in Afghanistan. The official said that there have been no “encouraging developments” towards getting girls back into classrooms. He mentioned that 28 million people now depend on aid to survive in the country.
AID NEEDED
Alakbarov stated that over the past 18 months, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined by up to 35 per cent, cost of a basic food basket rose by 30 per cent and unemployment by 40 per cent. Additionally, roughly 75 per cent of people’s income is now spent just on food, he added.
Moreover, the UN and partners sought 4.6 billion dollar this year to assist the Afghan population.
ADVOCATING FOR GIRLS
The UN Official said that the UN continues to engage with the de facto Taliban authorities in the aftermath of edicts banning girls from attending secondary school and women from working with local and international aid agencies on the ground.
“I regret to say that to datewe haven’t seen any news or any encouraging developments with regard to girls’ education,” said Alakbarov. “The UN continues to advocate for this.”
Regarding humanitarian work, he noted that the Taliban have made exceptions for women’s participation in the health and education sectors following the visit by UN relief chief Martin Griffiths last month.
“The health sector exemptions on female participation include not just medical services delivery in the facilities, but also psychological support, community-based health activities and nutrition. And it is applied to all females working in offices, hospitals, health centres, or mobile teams,” he said.
DIFFERENCES IN EDUCATION
The situation is similar for women teachers, including in providing community-based education through non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Although applicable at the national level, there are “a lot more localized solutions” which vary from province to province.
“Those localized solutions are always within the framework of what is the situation on the ground – that is availability of mahrams (male guardians), availability of gender-segregated transportation, and application of the chador or hijab,” he said.
INTERFERENCE AND ASSURANCES
Alakbarov was asked about Taliban interference in aid delivery. He said distributions were stopped in “severe cases”, which occurred in at least two provinces over the past four months. They resumed once the issues were addressed.
“Most of the access incidents and what is leading to the temporary suspension of programmes these days, is related to the directives against Afghan women working for national and international NGOs, and those associated matters,” he said.
“It’s not related to security issues, and we continue to enjoy quite a good physical access throughout the country,” he added.
FULL HUMAN RIGHTS
Additionally, beneficiaries can also communicate with the UN through hot lines and other means, including “to raise complaints, or raise alarms, or be a whistle-blower.”
The senior aid official also was asked about reported divisions within the Taliban leadership over the education and humanitarian bans, but he did not think it would be helpful to comment.
Instead, he stressed the need for the de facto authorities to ensure Afghan girls and women have the right to be full members of society, which includes being able to work, get an education, and access healthcare and other services.
