UN will maintain aid to Afghanistan, Taliban says after meeting

A Taliban spokesperson on Sunday said the U.N. promised continued aid to the Afghan people during a meeting held in Kabul, Reuters reported.

Senior Taliban officials including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the organization’s political office, met with the U.N.’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths on Sunday.

“The UN delegation promised continuation of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, saying he would call for further assistance to Afghanistan during the coming meeting of donor countries,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted.

“The IEA delegation thanked the UN delegation, assuring them of cooperation and provision of needed
facilities,” he added, using the acronym for Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

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to the Afghan people, saying he would call for further assistance to Afghanistan during the coming meeting of donor countries. The IEA delegation thanked the UN delegation, assuring them of cooperation and provision of needed
facilities.

— Suhail Shaheen. محمد سهیل شاهین (@suhailshaheen1) September 5, 2021

According to a statement from the U.N. on the meeting, Griffiths “reiterated the humanitarian community’s commitment to deliver impartial and independent humanitarian assistance and protection to millions of people in need.”

“He emphasized the critical role of women in the delivery of aid and called on all parties to ensure their rights, safety and well-being. He called for all civilians – especially women and girls and minorities – to be protected at all times. Mr. Griffiths expressed his solidarity with the people of Afghanistan,” the U.N. said, adding that more meetings are expected in the coming days.

“Now more than ever, the people of Afghanistan need the support and solidarity of the international community,” said the U.N.

Afghanistan is among the poorest countries in the world. Numerous international non-governmental organizations have moved to cut off Afghanistan from accessing global resources following the Taliban’s takeover.

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund both moved to cut off Afghanistan from financial resources soon after the Taliban took power. The U.S. Treasury also reportedly froze billions in Afghan reserve funds being held in the U.S.

Soon after the Afghan government fell, U.N.-backed groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF warned that resources held in the country would not last long, and called for the continued access to crucial resources from outside. 

The WHO later confirmed in August that it had successfully completed its first shipment of supplies into Afghanistan since the government collapsed. The agency was able to send in enough supplies to help around 200,000 people.