If the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan devastates everything in its path, the Taliban do not seem to take the measure of their role in it and call on the rest of the world to come to the aid of the inhabitants of the country. Abdul Ghani Baradar, co-founder of the fundamentalist group and number two in the government, on Friday called on the international community to support “Without any political bias” the Afghans.
Caught in a humanitarian disaster deemed one of the worst in the world by the United Nations, the population must face infections, shortages, lack of means, but also and above all famine. According to several international organizations, more than half of the 38 million Afghans will be affected by the lack of food. 3.2 million children will also suffer from severe malnutrition this winter, according to Unicef, and a million of them are at risk of dying.
Snow and floods worsen the crisis
In his video released by public media, the Deputy Prime Minister urges the world to “Fulfill its humanitarian obligations”, adding that“In various places at the moment people have no food, shelter, warm clothes or money”.
In recent days, the climate has not helped the difficulties of a country on the brink of collapse. Snow blanketed much of central and northern Afghanistan while several areas in the south were affected by flooding. Which, according to Abdul Ghani Baradar, complicates the living conditions of Afghans already hard hit by the end of international aid. He nevertheless believes that the Taliban are ready to face this “emergency situation”.
Since the fall of the former Afghan government supported by the United States and its allies in mid-August, Western countries have cut off the aid taps that kept Afghanistan at arm’s length. Washington has frozen nearly $ 10 billion in Afghan Central Bank reserves. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have also suspended their aid.
A few steps forward were seen in December, with the adoption of a UN resolution that facilitates humanitarian aid to Afghanistan for a year. The Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has promised to set up a donation fund and try to unlock part of the country’s assets. Too little, too slowly? In the meantime, the humanitarian crisis continues.