Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian disaster; the country has a history of getting shored up by external aid. Ever since the new de-facto rulers has taken over the country, the economic conditions of the country are growing worse with every passing day, approximately 30% loss in GDP within a year.
It’s on the brink of collapse as there is no cash left even for the daily transactions.
Taliban took over Afghanistan in the month of August, after which US evacuated its remaining troops as an obvious outcome of that, capturing the remaining areas turned out to be cake walk for the militants. Afghanistan was majorly dependent on the foreign aid and this takeover resulted in the suspension of aid by the west powers and organizations.
This morning, the UNSC also unanimously passed Resolution 2615, drafted by the U.S. & designed to enable broader support for the basic needs of the Afghan people. Taken together, the message from the international community is clear: We are united in support of the Afghan people.
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) December 22, 2021
Food prices have escalated as the economy caved in. People can barely afford to buy, what they require to survive, by selling their possession.
Nearly 23million of Afghans are facing acute hunger insecurity and 3.1 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition. This situation is getting intensified by the country’s worst drought in last 3 decades.
Mary McGroarty, the country director of United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan told in an interview that ‘the farmers have lost their entire harvest’, therefore they don’t even have an option of substantial farming.
With no health assistance, more women are dying while giving birth. First death toll started to rise from preventable diseases, then from starvation. Salaries have been withheld and growing joblessness they have fought with, resulted into begging.
Although, international NGOs, numerous multilateral bodies from United Nations to G-20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have pledged their support to Afghanistan but the growing concern of humanitarian crisis fueling the refugee crisis keep on bugging the West and all the multilateral bodies.
Therefore, UN Security Council with resolution 2615(2021) paves the way for providing humanitarian assistance.
It carved out an exemption for humanitarian aid and other activities that keep up with the basic human needs from various sanctions imposed under resolution 2255 – five years ago and 1988 in 2011.
The resolution allows the processing and payment of the funds, other financial assets, and provision to ensure timely delivery of the assistance. It requested the Emergency Relief Coordinator to brief its members every six months and agreed to review the implementation of the resolution.
Furthermore, calling the humanitarian situation of the country “dire”, permanent representation of India to UN, T.S. Trimurti said aid should be given impartially. Thus, India voted in the favor of the resolution.
On the other hand, the permanent representative of China to UN, called for unfreezing Afghanistan’s financial assets.
“The countries concerned cannot continue to freeze substantial Afghans overseas assets while claiming to promote humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. We once again call for unfreezing of Afghanistan’s overseas assets as soon as possible”, he added.
Nevertheless, the result of lifesaving efforts by UN totally depends upon the cooperation of the de-facto authorities and on the flexibility of funding received.