The IMF has suspended its engagement with Afghanistan.
The International Monetary Fund has said its engagement with Afghanistan will remain suspended until there is clarity within the international community on the recognition of the Taliban-led government.
The IMF said it was deeply concerned by the economic conditions in Afghanistan, urging the international community to take immediate steps to prevent a “roaring humanitarian crisis” in the country.
“Our engagement with Afghanistan has been suspended until there is clarity within the international community on the government’s recognition,” IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters at a news conference on Thursday.
“We are guided by the international community in terms of government recognition in Afghanistan and we don’t have that. Therefore, the IMF program there has been put on hold; and, again, as we said, last month, the country is currently the IMF Cannot access resources, SDRs etc,” he said.
The Taliban captured Afghanistan on 15 August and removed the previous elected leadership backed by the West. The interim cabinet announced by the Taliban includes high-profile members of the insurgent group.
Several world leaders have announced that they will see whether the Taliban fulfills its promises to the international community on issues such as an inclusive Afghan government and human rights before giving diplomatic recognition to their regime.
Afghanistan was already experiencing chronic poverty and drought, but the situation has worsened since the Taliban seized power last month, with aid disruptions, the loss of thousands of people, including government and aid workers, and much economic activity. with the fall of.
Foreign donors have suspended aid to Afghanistan, saying disbursements depended on the behavior of the new Taliban-led government, which has not been recognized by either country.
Simple bank transfers to individuals in Afghanistan have also been blocked. It has plagued ordinary Afghans with high inflation, rising poverty, cash crunch, falling currency and rising unemployment.
Rice, however, said the IMF stands ready to work with the international community to advocate for immediate action to prevent a humanitarian crisis.
The IMF is deeply concerned by the difficult economic situation in Afghanistan and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
“We have said that the immediate focus should really be on that humanitarian situation, aid to help the people of Afghanistan; and allowing the flow of remittances and small-scale transfers; and providing aid to countries hosting Afghan refugees. do,” he said.
The IMF’s warning came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier that Afghanistan faces a “humanitarian catastrophe” and a complete collapse of basic services under the Taliban regime.
Guterres told an international aid conference this week that Afghans were facing “probably their most dangerous times”.
Donors at the conference pledged more than USD 1.1 billion to help Afghanistan.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has said that even before the Taliban took power last month, more than 18 million Afghans, or nearly half the population, were in need of humanitarian aid.
More than 3.5 million Afghans have already been displaced in the country battling drought and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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