New York: Human Rights Watch Called upon the United Nations and the World Bank to address AfghanistanA collapsed economy and a broken banking system to prevent widespread famine.
“Afghanistan’s economy and social services are in shambles, with Afghans already suffering from acute malnutrition throughout the country,” said John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch. “Humanitarian aid is important, but given the crisis, governmentsThe United Nations and international financial institutions need to urgently adjust to the existing sanctions and restrictions affecting the country’s economy and banking sector.”
Human Rights Watch said after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, millions of dollars in income losses, rising prices, liquidity crunch and cash crunch left most of the population with access to food, water, shelter and health care. has been deprived. ,
NS united nations world food program Several warnings have been issued throughout Afghanistan of the threat of food insecurity and mass deaths from hunger in the coming months.
Several media have reported that families who are short of money and food are selling their properties and trying to flee the country. Poor Afghans facing malnutrition have described desperate attempts to buy food or make fodder and the deaths of those unable to leave.
“The financial crisis has particularly affected women and girls, who face greater barriers to access to food, health care and financial resources. Taliban sanctions, which bar women from the highest-paying jobs have affected households in which women were the main earners. Even in areas where women are still allowed to work – such as education and health care – they meet the Taliban’s requirements. may be unable to comply, so that the male members of the family can take the women to work.”
Several banking officials and humanitarian agency employees told Human Rights Watch that most Afghan banks cannot cover withdrawals by private actors and aid organizations. The report said that even when funds are transferred electronically to banks, the cash crunch means that the funds are not physically available and therefore cannot flow into the country’s economy.
To address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, Human Rights Watch recommends that governments, the United Nations, the World Bank and the Taliban work to reach an agreement to allow the Afghan Central Bank access to the international banking system. needed.
“As a preliminary step, US Treasury Department and other financial authorities should issue licenses and guidance to allow the Central Bank to engage in limited settlement transactions with external private banks so that the bank can pay its World Bank dues and dollar deposits coming from legitimate private depositors. process or dispose of, such as UNICEF, United Nations Development Programme, remittance banks and other legitimate actors,” it further added.
“Donor generosity and humanitarian pledges cannot overcome the harsh reality that UN agencies, humanitarian groups and Afghan expatriates cannot send assets to a banking system that is not working, and account holders in Afghanistan cannot withdraw cash. are not there,” Sifton said.
“If governments take immediate action to address Afghanistan’s economic crisis, widespread deaths and starvation can be avoided,” Sifton said.
“Afghanistan’s economy and social services are in shambles, with Afghans already suffering from acute malnutrition throughout the country,” said John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch. “Humanitarian aid is important, but given the crisis, governmentsThe United Nations and international financial institutions need to urgently adjust to the existing sanctions and restrictions affecting the country’s economy and banking sector.”
Human Rights Watch said after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, millions of dollars in income losses, rising prices, liquidity crunch and cash crunch left most of the population with access to food, water, shelter and health care. has been deprived. ,
NS united nations world food program Several warnings have been issued throughout Afghanistan of the threat of food insecurity and mass deaths from hunger in the coming months.
Several media have reported that families who are short of money and food are selling their properties and trying to flee the country. Poor Afghans facing malnutrition have described desperate attempts to buy food or make fodder and the deaths of those unable to leave.
“The financial crisis has particularly affected women and girls, who face greater barriers to access to food, health care and financial resources. Taliban sanctions, which bar women from the highest-paying jobs have affected households in which women were the main earners. Even in areas where women are still allowed to work – such as education and health care – they meet the Taliban’s requirements. may be unable to comply, so that the male members of the family can take the women to work.”
Several banking officials and humanitarian agency employees told Human Rights Watch that most Afghan banks cannot cover withdrawals by private actors and aid organizations. The report said that even when funds are transferred electronically to banks, the cash crunch means that the funds are not physically available and therefore cannot flow into the country’s economy.
To address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, Human Rights Watch recommends that governments, the United Nations, the World Bank and the Taliban work to reach an agreement to allow the Afghan Central Bank access to the international banking system. needed.
“As a preliminary step, US Treasury Department and other financial authorities should issue licenses and guidance to allow the Central Bank to engage in limited settlement transactions with external private banks so that the bank can pay its World Bank dues and dollar deposits coming from legitimate private depositors. process or dispose of, such as UNICEF, United Nations Development Programme, remittance banks and other legitimate actors,” it further added.
“Donor generosity and humanitarian pledges cannot overcome the harsh reality that UN agencies, humanitarian groups and Afghan expatriates cannot send assets to a banking system that is not working, and account holders in Afghanistan cannot withdraw cash. are not there,” Sifton said.
“If governments take immediate action to address Afghanistan’s economic crisis, widespread deaths and starvation can be avoided,” Sifton said.
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