He demanded to avoid passing money through the Taliban.. Guterres calls on the international community to inject liquidity into the economy of Afghanistan

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said today, Monday, that the international community must find ways to directly pump cash into the Afghan economy to avoid its complete collapse, warning that the whole world, not just Afghanistan, will pay a heavy price.

In statements to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, Guterres urged the world to take measures and inject liquidity into the Afghan economy, stressing that any measures should avoid passing money through the Taliban.

"The crisis affects at least 18 million people, half of the country's population," he said, stressing that a massive United Nations operation is in a race against time for humanitarian assistance.

He warned that the heavy price would be more Afghans fleeing their country in search of a better life, increased drug flows and criminal and terrorist networks, affecting not only Afghanistan, but the region and the world at large.

The Secretary-General noted that the Afghan economy, which has depended for its survival on foreign aid for two decades, was struggling due to drought and COVID-19 before the Taliban seized power.

The movement's seizure of power led to the freezing of billions of dollars in assets of the Afghan Central Bank, and international financial institutions suspended the provision of funds, although humanitarian aid continues.

The UN official added that the measures must also be taken in isolation from diplomatic decisions to recognize the Islamic government.

He revealed that one way to inject liquidity into the economy is through United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations to provide cash payments directly to people, adding that the World Bank may establish a special trust fund from which funds can be withdrawn.

But, he said, "the main responsibility to find a way to step back from the brink" rests with the Taliban.

And in the middle of last August, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, coinciding with a final stage of an American military withdrawal that was completed at the end of that month.

Guterres also criticized what he saw as the Taliban's failure to fulfill the promises they made to Afghan women and girls, and said, "I urge the Taliban to fulfill their promises to women and girls and implement their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law," stressing that the role of women is key, and without them there is no chance for the economy to recover. and Afghan society.