UNICEF Waiting for Formal Meeting with Taliban : Sam Mort / RTE

 

UNICEF awaiting formal meeting with Taliban leaders

UNICEF's chief of communications in Afghanistan Sam Mort said UNICEF is awaiting a formal meeting with Taliban leaders in Kabul so it can decide whether it can safely resume its humanitarian operations.

She said half the country is in need of humanitarian assistance and while there is regular communication at a regional level between UNICEF and the Taliban, it has yet to have a formal meeting with the new de-facto authority in Kabul.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Ms Mort said that "until we understand what the new operating environment looks like we have scaled back our programmes due to issues of safety and security".

She said UNICEF needs to ensure its staff, including female staff, can move around country without threat.

Ms Mort said that half a million people are displaced and UNICEF is receiving an increasing number of reports of unaccompanied children moving around the country.

As the evacuations wind down, a "far greater humanitarian crisis" looms ahead for the nation of 39 million people, the UN refugee agency warned.

Agency chief Filippo Grandi reiterated a call for borders to remain open and for more countries to share the "humanitarian responsibility" of accepting refugees with Iran and Pakistan, which already host 2.2 million Afghans.

"More resettlement options are sorely needed. They are critically important, not only to save lives but also as a demonstration of good will," added Mr Grandi, whose agency said last week that up to 500,000 Afghans could flee by year-end.


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