8 Subh, Kabul: The United Nations is convening an aid conference on September 13 to raise $600 million for Afghanistan after warning of a growing humanitarian catastrophe in the country.Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had warned that the country was facing a looming humanitarian crisis.
An estimated 18 million people in Afghanistan are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The United Nations has previously warned that 97 percent of Afghanistan’s population could fall below the poverty line.
The sudden suspension of billions of dollars in foreign aid following the fall of the Afghan government has reportedly put more pressure on UN programs.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the agency itself is struggling financially and is unable to even pay its employees.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, several senior UN officials, and about 40 ministers are expected to attend the conference in Geneva. Other officials are more likely to join online.
About a third of the $ 600 million will be spent by the World Food Program (WFP), according to Reuters. Estimates from a statistical sample show that out of 1,600 people in Afghanistan, about 93% did not eat enough. The survey was conducted in August and September.
