Brussels: Afghanistan faces solving economic and social systems that are at risk of turning into a humanitarian disaster, the head of the European Union’s foreign policy on Sunday.
Avoiding the worst scenario will require the Taliban to comply with conditions that will allow more international assistance, Josep Borrell wrote in a blog post.
“Afghanistan has a serious humanitarian crisis and towering socio-economic collapse, which will be dangerous for Afghanistan, region and international security,” Borrell wrote.
Food prices in this country have surged more than 50% since the Taliban took power in August due to freezing of $ 9 billion Afghan assets held in foreign bank reserves and withdrawal of foreign income cut inflation.
The Afghan banking system is mostly paralyzed, with people who cannot withdraw money, while the state health system – which is very dependent on foreign aid – close to collapse, according to Borrell.
“If the situation continues and with the winter approaches, this risk turns into a humanitarian disaster,” he wrote, adding that this could trigger mass migration to neighboring countries.
UE 27 countries have increased its humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan since the Taliban took power, but stopped its development assistance – a step that was also taken by other countries and the World Bank.
The UE response to the crisis will depend on the behavior of the new Afghan authority, Borrell said, and the resumption of relations will require compliance with conditions such as human rights.
“It requires above all that the Taliban take steps that will enable the international community to help Afghans,” he said, adding that women’s staff from international institutions must be able to do their work.
Reports are widespread on violations of human rights and exclusion of girls from schools have denting optimism that the Taliban approach has changed since the first time Ran Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.
Borrell met Qatar officials last week in Qatartasi, where the Taliban had representation.
He said Qatar contact with the Taliban was intended to moderate their behavior, and urged Doha to use his contacts with them to ensure the “worst scenario” for Afghanistan can be avoided.