Following the Taliban’s takeover of power last year, the United Kingdom announced on Tuesday that it would co-host an international aid conference with the United Nations next month to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Poverty and hunger in Afghanistan have risen dramatically since the Taliban took control.
In order to assist the United Nations in raising $4.4 billion for Afghanistan, the virtual pledging conference will seek to gather the greatest amount of money the organisation has ever asked for a single country.
Following the Taliban’s overthrow of the Western-backed government in the summer, the vast majority of international funding was cut off. In Afghanistan, according to the United Nations, 98 percent of the population does not get enough to eat, and hospitals and schools are unable to pay their employees.
According to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in a statement, “the enormity of the need is unprecedented, and the repercussions of doing nothing will be terrible.”
“The United Kingdom is resolved to take the lead in the worldwide effort. We will mobilise foreign friends to generate critical funds to provide food, shelter, and health services, as well as to safeguard women and girls and to contribute to the stability of the region.”
In the wake of the withdrawal of foreign help, a severe drought, and an international financial crisis, Afghanistan’s economy has been pushed to the brink of collapse, with food prices rising rapidly and resulting in widespread starvation.
The donor conference comes at a time when the international community is still debating how to provide assistance to Afghanistan while not benefiting the country’s Taliban leaders.
During its previous regime, which lasted from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban prohibited women from leaving the house without the accompaniment of a male relative and the wearing of full face and head covering, as well as the education of females.
Initially, the Taliban pledged to build a more inclusive administration; but, allegations of summary executions and restrictions on the rights of women have been regarded with dismay by western countries.
