A total of 41 donor countries pledged more than $2.44 billion towards the United Nations& $4.4 billion appeal for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, the world body said on Thursday.This comes as international concerns grow over the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's (IEA) decision to bar girls a secondary education.Belgium's minister of development cooperation Meryame Kitir said: &Education empowers women and girls and that's what the Taliban (IEA) are afraid of.U.N.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the high-level conference urging donors to provide unconditional funding, saying that nine million Afghans faced famine and that families were selling children and organs to survive.The humanitarian situation has &deteriorated alarmingly& since the Taliban (IEA) takeover in August and the economy has all but collapsed, he said.Some 95 percent of people do not have enough to eat.
Nine million people are at risk of famine.
UNICEF estimates that a million severely malnourished children are on the verge of death, without immediate action,& he said.Britain, the European Union and the United States pledged funds, but along with Turkey and others voiced concerns about growing restrictions imposed by the IEA, Reuters reported.This humanitarian aid, like all aid from the United States, will go directly to NGOs and the United Nations.
The Taliban (IEA) will not control our humanitarian funding,& said United States ambassador to the U.N.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, pledging $204 million.Ahead of the drive, Britain pledged 286 million pounds ($374 million) for Afghanistan, where six of every 10 Afghans need aid, much of it food.The United Nations says funds under the appeal & three time the amount requested in 2021 & go directly to aid agencies and none are channelled through the de facto authorities.The post UN raises $2.44 billion for Afghan aid amid concerns on girls& education first appeared on Ariana News.