UN Security Council concerned over humanitarian needs

Members of the UN Security Council expressed grave concern today over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan after receiving a private briefing by UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima. "Members expressed concern about the plight of vulnerable women and children, especially before the onset of winter," Council President Richard Ryan from Ireland told journalists after the meeting. "They stressed the need for all States to cooperate with UN agencies and to help create the conditions for humanitarian agencies to operate effectively," he added. Ryan said that Council members were "deeply concerned" about the plight of the refugees and called on neighbouring states to facilitate cross-border deliveries while welcoming the cooperation of Iran and Pakistan in working with the United Nations in their response to this crisis. "Members called on the Taliban to desist immediately from threatening the safety of aid workers, and to cease immediately the destruction of aid destined for the Afghan people," Ryan added. Meanwhile, a top UN relief official said on Tuesday that the United Nations had received more than US $700 million following a meeting in Geneva last Friday, more than US$ 584 million requested. "This does not necessarily mean that we have more money than we know what to do with," UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Carolyn McAskie told journalists on Tuesday. "The UN puts out an appeal based on a certain set of categories of needs and then the donors will address that appeal but will also often make announcements of things they want to do themselves." She added: "All of this funding is extremely welcome and confirms our earlier views that donors would be extremely generous in this case." McAskie emphasised that the provision of food to vulnerable civilians inside Afghanistan remained the biggest challenge facing the United Nations and the relief community. "Fifty-five thousand metric tonnes per month will be needed to supply vulnerable Afghans inside Afghanistan for the winter," McAskie said. "Even our worst case scenario for refugee outflow still imply 5 to 6 million requiring food inside the country for the winter. There is now enough food inside Afghanistan for the next three to four weeks."