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September 13, 2021 "This conference confirmed the expectations regarding solidarity with the Afghan people".

This was said by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, announcing that over a billion dollars have been raised in the videoconference of donors from Afghanistan.

The UN last week launched the initiative to raise at least $ 606 million in aid. 



"I cannot give figures on the specific sum, but taking into consideration the appeal, the support for neighboring countries and other programs, we have heard promises for about a billion dollars". The meeting "fully met my expectations", said the UN secretary at a press conference, underlining the wide participation of ministers and representatives of organizations and the unanimous support of the international community to recognize that "this is the time to mobilize. ". 



The UN has estimated that the Afghan people will need more than $ 600 million in aid until the end of the year to avoid the food crisis and the collapse of public services.  The lack of food has dramatically increased since the Taliban took power last month.



Impossible assistance without talking to the Taliban

"It is impossible to provide humanitarian assistance inside Afghanistan without talking to the country's de facto authorities. And I think it is very important to talk to the Taliban right now for all aspects of the community. international: whether it is terrorism, human rights, drugs, government nature ", explained Guterres while attending the donors' conference promoted by the United Nations. 



For the UN secretary general, humanitarian aid can be a "gateway" to discuss other issues with the Taliban as well. "We don't want to turn Afghanistan into a Sweden or a Switzerland. But we know that there are some fundamental rights that are essential and that are at the heart of our commitment," he said. Guterres then underlined the "serious lack of liquidity" in Afghanistan and called on the international community to find mechanisms "to avoid the collapse of the Afghan economy". Over one hundred countries participated in the conference.