Half of Afghanistan's vulnerable population 'in dire need' of humanitarian aid: UN

Highlighting “sufferings" of vulnerable Afghani population, mostly women and children, due to insurgency across several fronts on borders of Afghanistan, UN on Monday stated that half of Afghan population was w in dire need of humanitarian aid. This included a third of children that are facing malnutrition driven by food shorts due to COVID-19 pandemic and country’s military and political turmoil, alike.

A report published by Asia Pacific Regional Humanitarian wing of UN highlighted plight of displaced families to neighbouring areas due to heavy fighting in areas of Nahr-e-Saraj District Administrative Centre (DAC) in Hilmand province. UN stated that this wave of internally displaced population was in need of international financial assistance for survival. 

Afghanistan's refugees and repatriation ministry had confirmed vulnerable Afghani population’s fleeing territory in a statement last week, stating, “Escalation of violence by Taliban terrorist group in country and spread of third wave of COVID-19 have caused a great deal of ecomic and social unrest, creating concerns and challenges for people.” It furr appealed to European governments and host countries to refrain from forcibly deporting Afghan refugees back in war-torn region for at least next three months.

According to United Nations refugee ncy data, world’s second-largest registered refugee population, an estimated 2.5 million came from Afghanistan, with vast majority taking refuge in neighbouring Pakistan, Europe or Iran. 

Kabul’s state news ncy Khaama Press on Monday quoted UN general secretary’s deputy special representative in Afghanistan, Ramiz Alkabrove, as saying that approximately 18.4 million people in Afghanistan were in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. To address this humanitarian crisis, Afghan government launched a Joint Humanitarian Appeal with UNAMA to prevent a humanitarian crisis that worsened in recent weeks due to pandemic, drought, and Taliban- Afghan government conflict. 

“ appeal is to humanity to show that we can save people from hunger by working toger,” Acting Minister for finance for Islamic Republic of Afghanistan wrote on Twitter as he anunced USD 250 million scheme for relief.  

'Food, water, NFIs, shelter urgent needs,' says UN OCHA

Afghanistan’s deputy special representative, Ramiz Alakbarov, meanwhile expressed concerns about Afghani children suffering from acute malnutrition as well as condemned humanitarian aid envoys being attacked and killed as he reiterated that neutral workers should t be subjected to attacks by armed groups. On June 17 armed conflict started between Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and a n-State Armed Group (NSAG) in Afghanistan’s Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand Province. fight spread across many regions including Ab Pashak, Band-e-Barq, Parchaw, Old Prison, Deh Adam Khan and Musaqalah Adda areas.

  conflict led to humanitarian impact as it triggered flight of local residents with local authorities estimating that 4,200 people have been displaced from Nahr-e-Saraj DAC alone to nearby vills within Nahr-e-Saraj district. Many of se displaced people and affected families took shelter with host families and relatives, or have been staying in open. UN OCHA stated in a report, that “food, water, NFIs, shelter and wash assistance are most urgent needs for vulnerable groups.”