Continue Humanitarian Flights In Afghanistan, UN Must Renew UNAMA's Mandate

Illustration of conditions in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Source: UNAMA/Freshta)

JAKARTA - The United Nations (UN) resumed its humanitarian flight mission to Afghanistan, and renewed its mission in the country following the takeover by the Taliban and the end of the UN mission this month.

The United Nations has resumed humanitarian missions in Afghanistan linking the Pakistani capital Islamabad with the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan and with Kandahar in the south. Three flights have landed at Mazar-i-Sharif since August 29. The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service is operated by the World Food Program (WHO).

"The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service is now operating flights to allow 160 humanitarian organizations to continue their life-saving activities in the Afghan provinces," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council should renew the UN mission in Afghanistan and increase its capacity to monitor, investigate and report on human rights abuses in the country since the takeover of the Taliban, as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) ends on September 17. , according to Human Rights Watch.

Illustration of the office of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan UNAMA. (Source: UNAMA/Fardin Waezi)

Security Council members have been discussing a resolution to renew UNAMA's mandate in the coming weeks. Meanwhile UNAMA and other UN agencies need to adapt to the rapidly evolving political and security environment in Afghanistan. Therefore, the presence of the United Nations in the country remains important to help protect the Afghan people. The role of the UN mission in monitoring the Taliban's compliance with Afghanistan's international human rights obligations will be critical.

"The Security Council must renew UNAMA's mandate and ensure missions and other UN agencies have the resources needed to provide life-saving assistance and to fully monitor human rights," said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch. September.

"The Taliban have a bad track record of human rights and violate the rights of women and girls in particular, so the UN mission needs to bring the world's attention to reporting publicly on the situation in Afghanistan," he said.

To note, the Security Council established UNAMA in 2002 to replace the UN Special Mission in Afghanistan, under the Bonn Treaty following the overthrow of the Taliban government in 2001. The Council gave UNAMA a broad mandate to monitor human rights, support the rule of law, protect human rights. women, and promote national reconciliation.

Illustration of the office of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan UNAMA. (Source: UNAMA/Fardin Waezi)

In resolution 2593, adopted on August 30, the Security Council urged the Taliban to keep its promise to ensure safe passage for all those wishing to leave the country. The UN mission and other UN agencies must monitor and report publicly on the Taliban's compliance with the resolution.

UNAMA should also cooperate with international justice mechanisms and other international fact-finding bodies investigating rights abuses in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Taliban must cooperate with UNAMA and the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to fulfill Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law.

Taliban authorities must comply with their obligation to provide protection to UN staff and facilities while ensuring that all UN staff members, including women, and other organizations have unrestricted access across the country to carry out their work.

"The Taliban must show their concern for the Afghan people by ensuring that humanitarian groups have full access to all those in need," Charbonneau said.

"The Taliban must admit, if they rule by going back to their infamous playbook on abusive treatment of women and girls and minorities, one day they will be held accountable," he concluded.