U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said he is working to secure additional assurances from the Taliban for aid workers in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a Devex event on the sidelines of the 76th United Nations General Assembly, Griffiths hailed the “courage” of aid organizations that have stayed in Afghanistan, and singled out local staff for praise, saying some faced “grave risk.”
Griffiths said one key issue was getting identity cards for drivers and staff so they could operate freely, and called for setting up clear ground rules. “Let’s have operating instructions which are clarified at the local level,” he said.
Plea for cooperation: Griffiths made an appeal for more cooperation not only to the Taliban but also to aid workers, whom he urged to work with the U.N. “If there are any problems … tell us … so we can act on them,” he said. “Please, let’s do this together. Share your information with us, and insist that we share our information with you.”
How to bypass the Taliban: Even as Griffiths said he was working with the Taliban on assurances, he insisted humanitarian aid — though not development assistance — could bypass the group and “be delivered directly through agencies and NGOs.” He indicated he sees this as a “temporary solution” only.
Why it matters: Salaries for many teachers, medics, and other front-line workers have not been paid since the Taliban took over. Hospitals are shutting down, warned the World Health Organization. The U.N., which is releasing $45 million to stave off a collapse of the health care system, is also warning about a “dramatic” humanitarian crisis.
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What donors want: Aid flows accounted for more than 40% of Afghanistan’s GDP prior to the collapse of the government, and donor funds made up about three-quarters of the state budget.
Donors are freezing funds and refusing to recognize the Taliban, seeking commitments to human rights and counterterrorism. The issue of girls’ education is prominent. Griffiths said the Taliban scored an “own goal” by telling girls to wait to return to school.
About the author
Shabtai Gold
Shabtai Gold is a Senior Reporter based in Washington. He covers multilateral development banks, with a focus on the World Bank, along with trends in development finance. Prior to Devex, he worked for the German Press Agency, dpa, for more than a decade, with stints in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, before relocating to Washington to cover politics and business.
