UN chief warns of humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, vowing to champion women’s rights

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, confirmed during the UN international meeting on Afghanistan held in Doha, and concluded yesterday, Tuesday, that they “did not discuss the issue of recognizing the Taliban government,” stressing that, “the United Nations will not remain silent about the violations of Afghan women’s rights.”

Guterres added, in a press conference, that “the international community has great concerns about the current situation in Afghanistan, especially with regard to the status of women,” and that he is looking forward to finding a solution to the situation there, describing the situation in Afghanistan as “the most cencerning in the world.”

Guterres warned that 28 million people in Afghanistan will need humanitarian assistance to survive this year, and there are six million Afghans one step away from starvation, “while funding is diminishing.”

Representatives of 21 countries held a two-day meeting in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Afghanistan, chaired by Guterres, with the aim of “activating international participation in common goals towards a sustainable path with regard to the situation in Afghanistan.”