and international sanctions contributed to the humanitarian and economic crises? In a nutshell, Afghanistan is entering famine territory. Children will be especially vulnerable to malnutrition and health problems. We are looking at terrible months ahead, with the bulk of the population falling into poverty, widespread hunger and potentially starvation deaths. In urban areas, poor and middle-class households are on the brink as government salaries have gone unpaid and day labor and other employment has dried up. Many rural Afghans will face a critical situation as they exhaust whatever food and financial resources they have in the lean period before the next harvest. Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come as winter sets in, making it harder for humanitarian assistance to reach many areas, for people to move to where they can access relief and for essential goods to reach those in need. The Afghan economy is in free fall, with GDP crashing by 30 percent and no recovery expected. Recent developments have precipitated an enormous economic shock, including the sudden regime change, the abrupt cutoff of foreign aid and international financial connections and the burgeoning loss of human capacity as technical, professional and managerial personnel fled the country while others went unpaid or became unemployed. Blue/The New York Times) How dire is the outlook for the Afghan people and economy? Will things get worse?Īfghanistan is suffering from a catastrophic “perfect storm.” Pre-existing problems - drought, the debilitating effects of decades of fighting, COVID-19 and a stagnant economy with widespread poverty and joblessness - were bad enough. Sacks of flour from a World Food Program convoy are unloaded in Afghanistan. USIP’s William Byrd says these actions are welcome but insufficient and discusses what more can be done to ensure the delivery of essential, life-saving aid to the Afghan people. Treasury Department and United Nations Security Council provided sanctions relief for humanitarian assistance flowing to Afghanistan. Millions face the prospect of falling into poverty, starvation and even death. 15 without any resistance from the Afghan army or the country's president, Ashraf Ghani, who fled.Afghanistan is teetering on the brink of a famine and economic collapse. and NATO forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years. The Taliban overran most of Afghanistan as U.S. On the issue of "the injection of liquidity in the Afghan economy," Guterres said, "I think the international community is moving too slow." Leaders of the world's 20 largest economies - the G20 - are holding an extraordinary meeting to discuss the complex issues related to Afghanistan on Tuesday. G20 leaders to discuss Afghanistan on Tuesday He added that the World Bank can also create a trust fund. Guterres said cash can be injected into the Afghan economy "without violating international laws or compromising principles." He said this can be done through UN agencies and a trust fund operated by the UN Development Program, as well as non-governmental organizations operating in the country. The UN chief said that injecting liquidity to prevent Afghanistan's economic collapse is a separate issue from recognition of the Taliban, lifting sanctions, unfreezing frozen assets or restoring international aid. Video 'They cannot hold the girls back,' Afghan women's rights activist says of Taliban rule ![]() "Banks are closing and essential services, such as health care, have been suspended in many places." "Right now, with assets frozen and development aid paused, the economy is breaking down," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. The country is grappling with a liquidity crisis as assets remain frozen in the United States and other countries, and disbursements from international organizations have been put on hold. Guterres said the UN is urgently appealing to countries to inject cash into the Afghan economy, which before the Taliban takeover in August was dependent on international aid that accounted for 75 per cent of state spending. Secretary General Antonio Guterres also appealed to the Taliban to stop breaking its promises to allow women to work and girls to have access to all levels of education.Įighty per cent of Afghanistan's economy is informal, with women playing an overwhelming role, and "without them there is no way the Afghan economy and society will recover," he said. Warning that Afghanistan is facing "a make-or-break moment," the United Nations chief on Monday urged the world to prevent the country's economy from collapsing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |