Taliban Tells World Not To Forget Afghanistan

KABUL, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Six months after the Taliban took over in August, aid groups and the Taliban implored the world not to forget the continuing humanitarian disaster in the landlocked country. Following the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and fall of the US-backed Afghan government, in August last year, the international community refused to recognise the Taliban government, freezing funds pledged for its rebuilding. The isolation has worsened an already perilous situation, leaving millions of Afghans on the brink of starvation. Speaking at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi told the Malaysian media the world must not ignore the country or imagine its problems away. He was at the airport to greet the special flight from Malaysia, which carried almost five tonnes of relief assistance for Afghanistan people, including winter clothing, baby food, blankets, milk powder and other essentials. He also thanked Malaysians and Malaysian aid groups for the assistance received today. He further said the international community had a “moral responsibility” to ensure the people of Afghanistan are cared for by allowing them a functioning government to represent them internationally. “The humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding in Afghanistan, I have to emphasise this is a man-made disaster. It is not natural. It is the result of the sanctions that are being imposed on us. It is the result of the isolation that has been imposed on us,” he said. “World humanitarian organisations and the countries of the world, the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) have made it very, very clear that the situation in Afghanistan cannot improve through humanitarian assistance (alone),” he added. Accompanying the cargo were officials from Malaysian Foreign ministry (Wisma Putra), Global Peace Malaysia (GPM) and Buddha’s Light International Association. The aid will be disbursed through the GPM office to local NGOs including Ehsas Welfare and Social Service Organisation, Humanitarian Assistance Society and Afghan Welfare Society. Deputy Secretary-General of Buddhist Southeast Asia JueCheng told Bernama she hoped the international community would continue to assist the people. “Don’t forget Afghanistan. Don’t forget the people who are crying in some way in the world,” she said. —BERNAMA