Afghanistan is heading towards a "full-fledged” humanitarian disaster if its economy is not saved from collapse, the vice president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday.
The country has been plunged into crisis by the abrupt end of billions of dollars in foreign assistance following the collapse of the western-backed government and the return to power of the Taliban last August.
Since then, the ICRC, which has operated in Afghanistan for 30 years, has increased its efforts in the country as the humanitarian situation worsens.
“Afghanistan is the most acute humanitarian crisis and it’s going towards a full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe. We see that the majority of Afghans, 39 million, are highly insecure because of a collapsing economy and high liquidity,” Gilles Carbonnier told The National during a visit to the UAE.
“We see that if the whole economy collapses, then no humanitarian organisation can respond.
“There is no humanitarian solution to such a humanitarian catastrophe.”
“Ordinary people don't have an opportunity to get an income and sustain their livelihoods,” Mr Carbonnier said.
The top ICRC official said the collapse could happen very quickly and it was important to find a temporary solution to avert a disaster.
"Fifty per cent of the Afghan population needs humanitarian assistance to survive, “so it’s already a sign of the gravity of the situation”, he said.
Afghanistan has a population of about 40 million people, meaning that approximately 20 million are on the brink of starvation.
“We need to buy time through the winter and hope that then a more sustainable solution can be found,” Mr Carbonnier said.
The official said his organisation is advocating some form of liquidity be made available so that payment systems can resume across the country to revive the economy.
“This is the first time we have had such a humanitarian catastrophe where we have to engage ministries of finance and others because the questions are not just humanitarian but also others.”
The ICRC supports 17 hospitals across Afghanistan and employs about 1,800 people — 100 are international staff while the other 1,700 are Afghans.
“These 17 hospitals, they are run by 5,500 civil servants, who are midwives, nurses, who were present before the arrival of the Taliban in Kabul and they have not received any salaries since August,” he said.
The Taliban expelled many foreign aid groups when it was last in power from 1996-2001 but this time has welcomed foreign donors, saying will protect their rights and those of their staff.
But the group has faced criticism for failing to protect human rights — including access to education for girls.
Despite this, many international groups say aid should not be tied to conditions, especially given the impending humanitarian disaster.
“We have been advocating for unconditional humanitarian assistance to save lives so that humanitarian assistance is not made conditional on the number of targets and policies that should be implemented,” Mr Carbonnier said.
The response should be based on need and not anything else, he stressed.
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Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
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A State of Passion
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Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
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- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm
Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm
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Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
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The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
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Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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South Africa
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
