The United Nations will hold an international conference to raise humanitarian funds for the Afghan people on September 13, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said Saturday.
The Taliban-controlled country “faces a looming humanitarian catastrophe,†Guterres said in a video posted on Twitter.
The aim of the ministerial-level conference is “to advocate for more resources so lifesaving humanitarian operations can continue,†he said.
Guterres has said that nearly half of Afghanistan’s roughly 40 million people need humanitarian support. An economic collapse is beckoning and serious drought has restricted food supplies leading to fears of mass starvation.
“We need the international community to stand together and support the Afghan people,†Guterres said.
“We also appeal for full and unimpeded humanitarian access to make sure Afghans continue to get the essential services they need,†he added.
EU foreign ministers on Friday agreed a joint approach to working with the Taliban. The EU position demands that any Taliban government must allow access to humanitarian aid.
