Threatened By Crisis And Hunger, UN Secretary General Reminds Security Council: Afghanistan Hangs By A Thread

An illustration of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. (Wikimedia Commons/IAEA Imagebank)

JAKARTA - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council the fate of Afghanistan hangs by a thread, warning of the fragility of the country's condition on Wednesday.

In addition, he also called on countries to authorize all transactions necessary to carry out humanitarian activities in the Taliban-ruled country.

He also pushed for the suspension of any rules or conditions that limit life-saving aid operations, as millions of people in the country suffer from extreme hunger, education and social services are on the verge of collapse.

The lack of liquidity also limits the capacity of the United Nations and other aid groups, to reach people in need in Afghanistan.

"We need to give financial institutions and commercial partners legal guarantees that they can work with humanitarian operators without fear of violating sanctions," Guterres said, noting that the 15-member council last month adopted a humanitarian exemption to UN sanctions related to Afghanistan. January.

About $9.5 billion of Afghanistan's central bank reserves remain blocked overseas, while international development support has dried up since the Taliban seized power in August. Donors seek to use the money as leverage over the Taliban on issues, including human rights.

"There is strong evidence of an emerging environment of intimidation and a decline in respect for human rights. This suggests the consolidation of government authority may lead to population control by fear," the UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, told the council.

In December, donors to the World Bank-administered Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund agreed to transfer USD 280 million to the World Food Program and the United Nations children's agency UNICEF to support nutrition and health in Afghanistan.

Antonio Guterres said the remaining $1.2 billion needed "will soon be released to help Afghans survive the winter."

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council Washington has moved to ensure US sanctions do not hinder humanitarian activities, is examining various options for easing the liquidity crisis.

Previously, UN Aid Chief Martin Griffiths and International Committee of the Red Cross President Peter Maurer met virtually with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month in Afghanistan.

Dominik Stillhart, ICRC director of operations, said "intense" discussions between the UN, ICRC, World Bank, and major donor countries were centered on "humanitarian exchange facilities" that would be supported or managed by the World Bank, allowing for cash to be injected into the economy. Afghanistan.

He told reporters money could be deposited at the facility and "under certain conditions cash could be made available to traders in Afghanistan".

However, he said it was a temporary measure as the capacity to carry out these functions was only owned by the central bank.

Thomas-Greenfield said, "ultimately, a functioning Afghan economy will require an independent and technically competent central bank that meets international banking standards."

Stillhart said an agreement was needed between the United Nations, the World Bank, and major donors to "start this facility," noting the discussions were not related to disbursing Afghan assets or changing sanctions against the Taliban.

He said a separate idea was also being discussed that would involve using money from the World Bank-administered Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund to pay non-security public sector employees.

To note, the United Nations earlier this month requested $4.4 billion in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by 2022. On Wednesday, the United Nations said it needed an additional $3.6 billion for health and education, basic infrastructure, livelihood promotion, and cohesion social needs, especially the needs of women and girls.