Some 23.7 million people need humanitarian aid this year, 3rd highest number of people in need globally, says official
\n HAMILTON
\nThe UN highlighted the alarming humanitarian need in Afghanistan, saying that more than 50% of the population require humanitarian assistance in the war-torn country.
\n\u201cHumanitarian needs in Afghanistan remain alarmingly high. More than 50% of the population \u2013 some 23.7 million people \u2013 require humanitarian assistance this year, the third highest number of people in need in the world,\u201d Lisa Doughten, head of the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division, said at a Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.
\nShe emphasised the impacts of poverty, food insecurity, and climate change, saying: \u201c1 in 4 Afghans are uncertain where their next meal will come from. Nearly 3 million children are experiencing acute levels of hunger.\u201d
\nDoughten also noted the devastating effects of climate change, with more frequent extreme weather events and annual droughts predicted to become the norm by 2030.
\n\u201cEfforts are already underway to establish anticipatory action programs… but these will need to be sufficiently staffed and funded to bear fruit,\u201d she said.
\nShe said that women and girls are \u201cprofoundly\u201d impacted by the Taliban government, particularly the ban on girls\u2019 education, which is \u201cfuelling an increase in child marriage and early childbearing.\u201d
\n\u201cReports of attempted suicides among women and girls are also increasing,\u201d she added.
\nDespite challenges, 9.9 million people received assistance from January to March 2024, she said, adding that only 21% of the $3 billion needed for 2024 has been funded.
\nShe stressed the need for sustained assistance to support longer-term solutions, helping Afghans lift themselves out of poverty and withstand climate shocks.
\nThe UN special representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, also told the council that the war-torn country remains in \u201ccrisis management mode\u201d despite the de-facto authorities maintaining political stability.
\n\u201cThe stability in Afghanistan that the de-facto authorities have continued to maintain, despite what I perceive as growing signs of popular discontent, should not hide the fact that as an international community we are still in a crisis management mode,\u201d Otunbayeva said.
\nDespite over 7 billion dollars in international aid, Afghanistan continues to face massive poverty and is ill-prepared for climate shocks.
\n\u201cAfghanistan has a near zero carbon footprint but is the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change and the least prepared to address climate shock. International assistance resources are, unfortunately, decreasing, in part due to competing global demands on diminishing donor resources. The 2024 appeal of some three billion dollars is only 20% funded,\u201d she said.
\nDespite political stability in Afghanistan, she expressed concern over the lack of political space for dissent.
\nThe envoy also condemned the ongoing restrictions on women and girls, who have now endured more than 1000 days out of school, leading to \u201cgrowing levels of depression among women.\u201d
\nShe called for greater flexibility and political willingness ahead of the upcoming Doha meeting to address larger issues and alleviate uncertainties for the Afghan people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Some 23.7 million people need humanitarian aid this year, 3rd highest number of people in need globally, says official HAMILTON The UN highlighted the alarming humanitarian need in Afghanistan, saying that more than 50% of the population require humanitarian assistance in the war-torn country. \u201cHumanitarian needs in Afghanistan remain alarmingly high. More than 50% of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":413976,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-413996","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n