The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has emphasized long-term support for Afghan citizens.
Indrika Ratwatte, the UNAMA deputy special representative for Afghanistan, during a visit to UN projects in Khost and Paktia provinces, stated that various challenges, including the return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran, negative climate impacts, and widespread poverty, have made Afghanistan more vulnerable.
Ratwatte mentioned that not only should humanitarian needs be addressed for Afghan citizens, but sustainable solutions must also be developed. According to Ratwatte, sustainable solutions in remote areas empower communities to reflect their needs.
Indrika Ratwatte, the deputy head of UNAMA, stated: "We have allocated 40 million dollars, particularly to remote and underserved areas, through the UN special fund. The importance of sustainable solutions in these areas is that they empower communities and reflect their needs. This approach engages with communities to identify their needs, determine solutions to address those needs, and, if necessary, involve communities and authorities in the implementation of these projects."
Meanwhile, some experts believe that short-term international support is not effective in reducing poverty in Afghanistan. They argue that for assistance to be impactful in the long term, it needs to be invested in infrastructure.
Abdul Nasir Reshtia, an economic expert, told TOLOnews: "If the international community supports Afghanistan in terms of economic aid, it will have a significant economic impact because the government has its strategic economic plans, and with the world’s cooperation, the government can push forward long-term development projects to create stable income for the people of Afghanistan."
Abdul Ghafar Nazami, another economic expert, said: "If we examine the impact of global aid on the economy of Afghan families, we can sense that there has been very little progress in improving their lives."
Earlier, the head of UNAMA, in a special Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, expressed concern over the economic crisis in Afghanistan and stated that the United Nations has requested three billion dollars in aid for Afghan citizens in 2024. However, so far, only 30 percent of this budget, amounting to $900 million, has been received.
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