The ambassadors stood and observed a minute of silence for the victims of the disaster before being briefed by Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, and Martin Griffiths, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator .

Mr Alakbarov provided an update on the earthquake, citing the latest figures which showed nearly 800 confirmed deaths and more than 4,000 injured, before turning to current challenges in human rights, economic and humanitarian issues facing the country.

Despite the difficulties, he said, “we continue to firmly believe that a strategy of continued engagement and dialogue remains the only way forward for the good of the Afghan people, as well as for the good of regional security. and international”.

press on human rights

Mr. Alakbarov said that the human rights situation in Afghanistan remains precarious.

Despite the adoption of a blanket amnesty and repeated assurances by Taliban leaders that it is being respected, UNAMA continues to receive credible allegations of killings, ill-treatment and other violations targeting individuals associated with the former government.

Credible allegations of violations against individuals accused of being affiliated with the National Resistance Front and the terrorist organization ISIL-KP have also been reported.

“The de facto authorities have increasingly restricted the exercise of basic human rights, such as freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of opinion and expression, cracking down on dissent and restricting civic space in the country” , did he declare.

In addition, restrictions specifically target women and girls, such as the ban on secondary schooling for girls and the decree ordering women to wear face coverings.

“The costs to the economy of these policies are immense,” he said. “The psychosocial costs of denying education, for example, are incalculable, and women are collectively excluded from society in ways unique to the world.”

Economic difficulties persist

The economic crisis is perhaps the biggest problem in Afghanistan and a potential driver of conflict and misery. The economy is estimated to have shrunk by up to 40% since August.

Unemployment could reach 40% this year, from 13% in 2021, while the official poverty rate could climb to 97%.

“If the economy is unable to recover and grow significantly and sustainably, the Afghan people will face repeated humanitarian crises; potentially spur mass migration and make conditions conducive to radicalization and resumption of armed conflict,” he warned.

Rural orientation

Afghanistan also remains highly vulnerable to future climatic and geopolitical shocks. Drought, floods, epidemics affecting both people and livestock, as well as natural disasters such as the earthquake, further aggravate vulnerabilities.

Mr. Alakbarov stressed the need to prioritize rural areas, emphasizing agricultural and food systems to prevent hunger. It will also help reduce child labour, improve health outcomes and create an enabling environment for social development and change.

“It will also pave the way for alternative agriculture to replace poppy cultivation, allowing us to take advantage of the authorities’ recent de facto ban on poppy cultivation and narcotics,” he said.

“In doing so, we must continue to give adequate attention to clearing largely unexploded munitions of war. This bottom-up approach to economic recovery is shared by the de facto authorities and would help the most vulnerable.

Politically, Alakbarov said the Taliban held almost exclusively power, and the emergence and persistence of armed opposition is largely due to political exclusion.

Exclusion and insecurity

Meanwhile, the general security environment in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

Attacks by the armed opposition against the de facto authorities doubled in May compared to the previous month. Although the number of ISIL-KP terrorist attacks has generally declined, their geographic reach has expanded from six to 11 provinces.

“We cannot rule out the possibility of increased instability if peoples’ rights are denied and they do not see themselves in their government,” he said.

Inclusion and engagement

Over the coming month, the UN will seek to promote political consultation and inclusion, and engagement with de facto authorities will continue.

“Even though the international community and the Taliban remain far apart” on the issue of human rights, especially for women – and political rights, “there are areas where we can do better to improve the lives of Afghans, as well as to make progress on issues of common interest such as counter-narcotics and mine action.

Addressing the humanitarian response, Mr Alakbarov highlighted how humanitarian partners reached some 20 million Afghans between January and April this year alone, including nearly 250,000 returnees and some 95,000 people affected by floods and weather events. .

However, the humanitarian crisis persists and sustained support will be needed throughout the coming year.

More soon…