Nowruz, Dari/Farsi for ‘new day’, marks the spring equinox on March 21 each year, and is an ancient festival celebrating the Persian New Year. The International Day of Nowruz was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2010 and inaugurated into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; celebrated across the world by many different countries and diaspora groups, and in the process bringing together different cultures and communities.
In Afghanistan it heralds the arrival of spring, the blooming of tulip flowers, and the greening of the plains and mountains that make up the Afghan landscape. In towns, cities and villages alike it is a time of great celebration and festivity, with families and people of different backgrounds coming together to welcome the first day of the year with colours, games and delicious foods.
Here in Canberra is no exception; and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan wishes to extend its invitation to you to join us in welcoming the year 1401 with traditional festivities on Sunday the 20th of March at the Embassy grounds. Nowruz is an eagerly awaited date on the Embassy calendar, as we look forward to prosperous and peaceful new year for both Australia and Afghanistan, and our friends around the world.
Unfortunately, among other nonsense bans, Nowruz celebration is also totally banned under the Taliban extremists in Afghanistan who don’t believe in peace, don’t believe in harmony, don’t value cultural diversity, and don’t respect human dignity at all. The Taliban, IS-K and other terrorist groups are sticking in their totalitarian theocratic and harsh ideological belief based on misinterpretation of sharia law to promote clash of civilizations.
To make 1401 truly spectacular and given that we have entered a new century of solar calendar, the Embassy is proud to present New Year, New Century, International Day of Nowruz, featuring different activities, games, displays, exhibitions, performances, and more – there is something for everybody, and each family member can celebrate Nowruz in their own way.
There will be live music and live performances of traditional dance Attan by talented dancers and musicians travelling to Canberra from around Australia. Enjoy the performances while you admire the Embassy transformed by beautiful artworks and paintings by Dr. Yosuf Asefi, dazzling clothing displays and traditional carpets in rich colours. Sample some world-famous dry fruits and saffron tea or treat yourself to a lunch of delicacies as you have your name written in Afghan calligraphy.
Learn more about Nowruz as you view the Haft Sin table, representing seven important qualities for the new year, and taste the festive specialty, Meywa. Discover your Afghan horoscope. And if you’re more interested in understanding the past, take home a piece of Australia’s own history with an exciting and informative DVD documentary on Afghan Cameleers.
Try your luck and compete with your friends and family at popular traditional games such as kite flying, and ‘egg-fighting’ for a real taste of how Nowruz is celebrated in Afghanistan. For those amongst us who are more athletically inclined, play a spot of cricket and cheer on the Afghan team as it competes in the upcoming T20 2022 World Cup right here in Australia this October.
With all this and much more, the Embassy of Afghanistan is excited to announce its celebrations for Nowruz 1401. We look forward to welcoming community members, members of the diplomatic corps, members of Parliament and the public service, students, military personnel and all our other Australian and Afghan friends to welcome the New Year, New Century on Sunday the 20th of March.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra, Australia will celebrate Nowruz 2022/1401 (solar calendar) with a series of cultural, artistic and entertainment programs at the premises of the Embassy on Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm.
This historical event, which has deep roots in the history and culture of the people of Afghanistan, as well as most of its neighboring and regional countries, has been recognized by the United Nations since 2010 as the "International Day of Nowruz”. But unfortunately, by the Taliban takeover, Nowruz is now banned in Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan Embassy in conjuction with Afghan diaspora in Sydney and Melbourne will celebrate this historic and cultural day as an important annual festivity which is the heritage of our ancestors.
It is worth mentioning that Nowruz 2022 coincides with the start of the new century (Solar Calendar). Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, the Embassy was not able to celebrate this festivity in the last two years. We do hope that with collaboration and support of fellow Afghan communities and associations in Australia, this year’s Nowruz Festival will be celebrated with greater success.
From variety of Afghan cuisine, Samanak, Haft Meyva, saffron tea, Afghan products such as dry fruits, carpet exhibition, national costumes show, entertainment programs including musical performance and other Nowruz related activities are included in celebration of Nowruz 2022/1401.
Australian friends of Afghanistan and representatives of Foreign Diplomatic Corps will also participate in this historic festival. For this occasion, 20th of March this year will be an “Open Embassy Day” for all guests and visitors from different ages.
Afghan community/association/diaspora members are most welcome to contribute to Nowruz 2022 celebration. Let us take part in celebrating this national festivity and not let our indigenous traditions and historical days to be diminished and marginalized.
For more information and necessary coordination, please reach out via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mobile/ WhatsApp # 0416 465 572.
International Women’s Day (IWD) was held on March 8, 2022 in Melbourne. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan along with Monash University, Baran Entertainment and Helping Afghans digital platform, highlighted the current plight of women and girls in Afghanistan.
IWD is traditionally seen as a celebration of the global progress in women and girl’s rights, however the opposite has occurred in Afghanistan since the Taliban return to power in August 2021.
H.E Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi, in his keynote speech emphasised the importance of keeping the Taliban-Haqqani regime accountable for their actions and judging them by their actions not words. On IWD in Afghanistan, the main headline centred on a young girl who had been raped, killed and then had her body thrown in the street. This is the current situation women and girls are facing in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Waissi stressed that “engaging and dealing with the Taliban in the way it has been examined by some countries so far shall not provide incentives to the group to pave the way for its legitimization and recognition. The more incentivising this militant group, the more it will act recklessly and will misuse the opportunities given. The 2020 Doha Accord was a clear example. The unprecedented economic downturn, lack of access to basic services, humanitarian catastrophe and widespread hunger are alerting. It is so difficult for the United Nations, donor countries and organizations to reach out Afghans in need of immediate help who’re kept as hostage by Taliban.”
A panel discussion on supporting women in Afghanistan was also part of the second half of the event. Federal Member for Higgins, Dr Katie Allen MP, moderated a panel discussion which was comprised of, former Afghanistan Minister of Economy, Dr Karima Faryabi, author of Parwana: Recipes and stories from an Afghan kitchen, Ms Durkhanai Ayubi, from Helping Afghans digital Platform, Mr Saviz Savizyar, and Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre postdoctoral fellow, Ms Farkhondeh Akbari.
The Gender, Peace and Security Centre and Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance have also collaborated on this event. "Collectively, our aim is to turn the spotlight on the fight by Afghanistan’s women for the fundamental rights of women under the Taliban’s repressive regime, once again, since their takeover of the country on 15 August 2021." Said by Professor Pickering, the MC of the event.
The event was also featuring that evening with a performance by Afghanistan’s most prominent singer, Farhad Darya, to pay tribute to International Women’s Day through music and arts. Music is banned under the Taliban regime. Musical instruments are burnt across the country. Artists of all backgrounds face threats to their lives. Women artists have disappeared, and their work is destroyed.
An official launch of the Helping Afghans platform, which is a digital platform in support of women and girls who are suffering from the current unprecedented humanitarian crises, was also included in this special celebration of International Women’s Day. Mr. Savis Savisyar discussed the platform during the panel discussion.
To acknowledge and honour the outstanding contribution, achievements, and dedication of some Australian and Afghan individuals in support of Afghan women and girls in different sectors, a recognition and award ceremony was also part of this year’s special celebration of International Women’s Day. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is honoured to select and present the recognition and awards on behalf of the people of Afghanistan. The IWD awards was given to Journalist, Yalda Hakim, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, artist and human rights activist Habiba Askar and Director for Monash GPS centre, Prof. Jacqui True. An anonymous tribute award to Afghan Women - in honour and memory of all Afghan women and girls who have sacrificed their lives to fight for their rights was the fifth award of the event.
This event’s aim was to bring together key people and acknowledge those who have contributed to and are influential in this cause, and to celebrate Afghan women’s fight for their rights. It was also highlighted Monash’s long-term investment in the women of Afghanistan through the ongoing support of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and the work of the Gender, Peace and Security Centre.
Over 180 participants, from Australian and Afghan communities have participated at this year's IWD celebration at Monash.
To view photos of the event, please click on Embassy's Flikr page here.
To watch complete video of the event, click here.
Speech by HE Wahidullah Waissi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Australia and None-resident Ambassador to New Zealand and Fiji
On International Women’s Day
Melbourne, 08 March 2022
In the Name of God, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful
Dr. Katie Allen, Member of the Australian Parliament,
Ms. Christine Clarke, Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls
Prof Margarete Gardner, President, and Vice Chancellor, Monash University
Prof Sharon Pickering, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President of Monash Uni
Prof Jacqui True, Director of Gender, Peace and Security of Monash
Dr. Karima Hamid Faryabi, Afghanistan’s Former Minister of Economy,
Representatives of the Consular Corps in Melbourne,
Mr. Farhad Darya, the Afghan legend singer, producer and activist
Prof. Emeritus William Maley,
Australian friends, Fellow members of the Afghan community,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to begin by sincerely thanking the Monash University’s Faculty of Arts for warmly accepting the proposed initiative of devoting and hosting this year’s International Women’s Day in support of the women and girls in Afghanistan. This meant to celebrate their courage and bravery in their fight for dignity, freedom, and justice.
I would like to profoundly thank the Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre, the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, and the student-led Monash International Affairs Societyfor establishing partnerships with organisations in Afghanistan to promote education of young people and human rights. In this regard, my special appreciation goes to Prof. Jacqui True, for her eloquently stand by Afghan women and girls.
This is sufficiently regrettable that, once again, women and girls have been forced to experience the darkest period of their life under the Taliban oppressive regime. This marks the most tragic episode in the history of struggle and survival of the Afghan nation.
Distinguished participants,
Your immense presence, engagement and dedication in today’s event is greatly encouraging. It is a strong testimony of solidarity and support to the outstanding campaign and sacrifices of the women and girls in Afghanistan.
Afghan women and girls have been in the forefront of opposing the tyrannic regime of the Taliban since the junta came into power again by illegitimate use of force instead of abiding by a peaceful settlement and democratic mechanism, which has been the foremost desire of the people of Afghanistan, more than four decades.
The Taliban extremist group has severely disrupted the recent two decades of progress and achievements of the Afghan nation where women and girls were particularly benefiting from with the support of international community, including Australia.
Enhancing public and private education, boosting economic development, democratic institutions, and political representation, safeguarding human rights, women and girls empowerment, freedom of speech, freedom of press, flourishing arts, culture, music, sport, and all other areas of socio-economic development in Afghanistan have now faced with meaningless impediments and restrictions by Taliban due to their mis-interpretation of Islam and the sharia law, which is totally strange and not acceptable by any country and Muslim community throughout the world.
TODAY we celebrate the 2022 IWD while millions of women are not allowed to go back to work and millions of girls are still being prevented to continue their secondary and higher educations in Afghanistan.
TODAY we celebrate the 2022 IWD when there is no chance for women and girls in Afghanistan to exercise and benefit from the universal conventional rights and opportunities in political, social, economic, cultural, and other fronts.
We celebrate the 2022 IWD while Afghan women and girls TODAY are not even allowed to commute without accompanying a male relative and cannot travel beyond a limited distance alone.
In the past nearly 7 months, Talib junta did not tolerate at least one peaceful demonstration or gathering of Afghan women activists whose slogans were only food, employment, and freedom. Not only the women activists, but many journalists, human rights defenders, former government officials and all other Afghans who are not necessarily opposing the Taliban regime but just seeking their basic rights and dignity have also been subjected to arbitrary detention, assault and torture by the Taliban. The Taliban’s armed men raiding to the houses in major cities even in the middle of the night have tremendously been violated the privacy of the Kabul residents.
Ladies and gentlemen,
With all these wrongdoings of the Taliban that we know about, even though there are lack of freedom of press and media in Afghanistan, how can be convinced that the Taliban have changed for the better, compared to their repressive totalitarian regime of the 1990s.
Should the Afghan nation and the international community accept the deprivation of millions of Afghan women and girls from their fundamental rights, such as employment and education as a new normal?
Hence, on this occasion, on behalf of my people, I kindly request the Australian Government, the Australian people and the Afghan diaspora to keep their current principled position and supportive role to the cause and struggle of the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls likewise in the last 7 months for “not recognizing the Taliban” as a government.
In addition, the unprecedented economic downturn, lack of access to the most basic services, humanitarian catastrophe and widespread hunger under the Taliban are alerting. It is so difficult for the UN agencies, donor countries and organizations to reach out the Afghans in need of immediate help who are kept as hostage by the Taliban.
However, engaging and dealing with the Taliban in the way it has been examined by some countries so far shall not provide incentives to the group to pave the way for its legitimization and recognition. The more incentivising this militant group, the more it will act recklessly and will misuse the opportunities given. The US-Taliban 2020 Doha Accord was a clear example.
Dear guests,
Let me talk about some good and positive matters now as I think I spoke enough about the Taliban.
I am so delighted to see the progress and achievements of the Afghan diaspora in Australia, particularly among women and girls, in various fields such as in higher education, health, economy, business, multiculturism, gender, art and more. Fortunately, we have many of them among us today and will have some of them on board during the recognition and awards ceremony.
I do hope, that with the continued commitment, engagement, and support by the Australian Government to the people of Afghanistan, more refugee crisis will be prevented. There is huge potential among the Afghan diaspora communities which can be mobilized in support of the most vulnerable populations in Afghanistan, notably women and girls. The inception of Helping Afghans which is a digital platform in this respect is quite significant. This initiative will be elaborated during the panel discussion later this evening. I thank both Baran Entertainment and the Helping Afghans Platform for partnering and sponsoring this momentous IWD celebration.
I am very pleased that this timely occasion coincided with the presence of the famous Afghan national singer, musician, and public figure, Mr. Farhad Darya, who will pay tribute to our today’s IWD celebration through his magnificent performance together with the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music students. I appreciate Prof. Cat Hope’s dedication and support to this program.
Last but not the least, I would like to extend my appreciation to Farkhundeh Akbar, for her contribution and tireless effors for organising today’s programme. I should also congratulate her, now as Dr., Farkhundeh Akbari, as she recently completed her PhD program at the ANU and joined Monash GPS.
In conclusion, I must say that while the Taliban have not changed for the better and is opposing to respect women and girl’s rights, Afghan women and girls have progressed in many fields during the past two decades. That’s why the movements of women and girls have been an active resistance against the Taliban in the past 7 months.
I recall the performance of All Female Zuhra Orchestra here at the Robert Blackwood Hall as part of the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries in 2019. Now, after 3 years, despite Taliban’s takeover, we are back here in this joint glorious celebration. With this, I am confident that the people-to-people bonds between Australia and Afghanistan is unbreakable. It will continue in the future and for the generations to come.
Thank you!
Monash University, in conjunction with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Baran Entertainment and the Helping Afghans platform by PBC Digital, is pleased to present a joint event to celebrate International Women’s Day 2022 to honour women’s fight in Afghanistan’s equality and justice.
Our aim is to turn the spotlight on their fight for the fundamental rights of women under the Taliban’s repressive regime, once again, since their takeover of the country on 15 August 2021. The event objectives are to:
- Celebrate International Women’s Day by drawing attention to the Afghan women’s fight for their fundamental rights
- Recognise the importance of music for bringing people together around important causes
- Acknowledge the critical role Monash has taken in the promotion of women rights, supporting Afghan women socially, culturally, and politically, and the right of the Afghani people to music as a form of expression.
Alongside presentations by the Ambassador, Monash staff and music students, the event will feature Afghanistan’s national singer, Farhad Darya, to pay tribute to International Women’s Day through music and arts.
Music is banned under the Taliban regime. Music instruments are burnt across the country. Artists of all backgrounds face threats to their lives. Women artists have disappeared, and their arts are destroyed to wipe their records. This event wishes to bring together key people - who have contributed and are influential in this cause - to be acknowledged and together celebrate Afghan women’s fight for their rights. It recognises Monash’s long term investment in the women of Afghanistan through the ongoing support of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and the work of the Gender, Peace and Security Centre.
Join us in a musical celebration for International Women's Day with scholars, performers and dignitaries from Australia, Monash and the Afghan diaspora.
EVENT'S DETAILS
Livestream: March 8th 2022, 6.30pm AEDT
Viewable on page or on https://www.facebook.com/Monash.University/videos/
PART ONE:
1. Acknowledgement and welcome note: Professor Margaret Gardner AC, President and Vice-Chancellor of Monash University.
2. Speaker: Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi, Embassy of the Islamic Republic Afghanistan in Canberra.
3. Live musical performance: Students of the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance.
PART TWO:
4. Panel discussion: Supporting women in Afghanistan. Moderated by Ms Katie Allen (Federal MP).
Panellists: Dr Karima Faryabi (Former Afghanistan’s Minister of Economy), Ms Durkhanai Ayubi (Author, Parwana), Mr Sawiz Sawizyar (Helping Afghan Platform), Ms Farkhondeh Akbari (Postdoctoral fellow at GPS). This diverse panel brings on the expertise of Afghan women and on helping Afghan women.
5. Introduction to Farhad Darya: Ryan Rezai, Representative from Baran Entertainment.
6. Live musical performance: Farhad Darya with students from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance.
7. Recognition awards
8. Vote of thanks: Professor Margaret S. Barrett, Head of the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance at Monash University.
On the 17th of February 2022, Ian Campbell Smith or more commonly known by his stage name ‘Fred Smith’ performed a charity concert for the recently evacuated Afghans in Canberra. The concert was devised by Smith who described the concert as “a wake for the mission in Afghanistan and an opportunity to welcome and embrace our new citizens”, many of whom were present in the near-capacity audience. The event was attended by MC Virginia Haussegger and Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Wahidullah Waissi.
Kabul fell to the Talban on August 15 2021, and with it the world witnessed the desperation of Afghan’s as they attempted to escape Taliban rule. Fred Smith along with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra assisted in the evacuation of thousands of refugees from Hamid Karzai airport.
The concert focused on Smith’s retelling of Australia’s 10-year deployment, which began in 2001 and detailed commentary of scenes from both the war itself to the horrible images of babies being passed over razor wire during the airport evacuation.
Music supporting the narrative was songs from the “Dust of Uruzgan” album. Firstly, “A Thousand Splendid Suns”, an outline of the advance of the rights of women, sung with simple beauty by Kim Yang. The title track and “Sapper’s Lullaby” both tell of the deaths of Australian soldiers. Ben Ranaudo’s story is relayed as if it was a mate outlining details to the officer compiling the report of his passing, whilst the lullaby is a moving tribute to two brave combat engineers who lost their lives as a result of improvised explosive devices in 2010.
Smith’s song “Live Like an Afghan” described the nature of the Afghan people, a race full of resilience and geniality marked by their mirth, grace and courteous nature. Moreover, his song “This I Know” was a disturbing story based around the “60 Minutes” expose of alleged atrocities and the investigations of the Brereton Report. Poetry interrupted the song as Smith recited his “Sparrows of Kabul”, a haunting commentary surrounding the withdrawal of the coalition forces and the consequential negative influence on the country. Two final songs, “Gates of Kia” and “Trembling Sky” brought to a close a concert of high emotion and feeling.
Fred Smith’s concert was an astute analysis of Australia’s 10-year involvement in the Afghan War from 2001 – 2021. The show reiterated the importance of Australia remaining engaged with Afghanistan and her people; who fight every day for their right to dignity and freedom. Smith’s concert through the power of music, now banned under the Taliban regime, reminds Australians all over the horrors of war and the beauty of peace.
Proceeds from the concert will go towards the education of the young Afghan refugees, support for housing and swimming lessons for young girls.
In December 2021, the 6th Ghan International Film Festival was held in Adelaide, South Australia in partnership with Farda TV Australia. GIFFA showcased the incredible talent of Afghan filmmakers as they captured the culturally and linguistically diverse landscape of Afghanistan.
The films explored Afghan culture and some of the most confronting issue prevalent in Afghan society today, through a number of independent and artistically ambitious short films.
These extraordinary films challenged stereotypically negative views of Afghans, explored problems facing marginalised women and children, and revealed life in Afghanistan beyond the conflict that is shown on the news.
GIFFA also acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Australians and the Afghans who first arrived in Australia in the 1860s (the Cameleers) who enriched the local culture with their music, dance and cuisine.
All profits from the Film Festival went to ‘Achiana’, an organisation which works to provide education, food, and shelter for the street children in Kabul.
Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, HE Wahidullah Waissi, had the pleasure of attending the opening with the Hon. Jing Lee MLC, Assistant Minister to the Premier, South Australia. GIFFA continues to act as a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of great adversity, and the Embassy is honoured to share their stories with the Australian community.
In honour of Mr Hashimy's efforts in promotion of Afghan culture and cinema, Ambassador Waissi presented a plaque of Appreciation. The Embassy of Afghanistan would like to offer their sincere gratitude to Fahim Hashimy: Director of GIFFA and his team on delivering the film festival in 2021 despite the traumatic and challenging times that the Afghan community faced.
On Saturday the 5th of February 2022 the launch of “My Life, My Story” exhibition was held at the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre in Sydney Australia.
My Life, My Story shares 21 personal stories of women living outside of Afghanistan. Their stories speak to resilience, displacement and migration, and the effects of war. This project began before the Taliban regime came to power in August 2021. The opening ceremony featured the debut documentary film by Maryam and an exhibition of new paintings by artists, Arezo Aziz, Sara Barackzay, Lida Sultani Farahin, Neelab Omar, Fozia Zahid and Zahid Ahmed.
My Life, My Story is one of two projects presented by Blacktown Arts in 2022 about the impacts of the war in Afghanistan. The first is a partnership with Afghan Women on the Move (AWOTM) – an organisation that was founded by humanitarian, producer and artist, Maryam Zahid.
AWOTM is a global platform uniting woman of the Afghan diaspora to share their life stories through creative arts and storytelling, breaking cycles of isolation and disadvantage. AWOTM’s goal is to support women to find their voice and empower them with the tools and resources they need to feel valued and their differences respected.
The event was attended by Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Australia, HE Wahidullah Waissi. Ambassador Waissi expressed his gratitude to the organisers and heralded the exhibition as a platform for Afghan women who ‘struggle to put their voice to the world and represent the pain and sorrow that Afghan women suffer today in Afghanistan’.
The Ambassador in his speech reiterated the importance of raising the voices of Afghan women. ‘Every day and every night, one or two female activists are caught and thrown in jail by the Taliban regime. This is the saddest moment we are facing in the country’.
His excellency stressed the importance of My Life, My Story as a catalyst to generate momentum globally and ‘provide a better understanding of what is happening inside Afghanistan.’
The event was also attended by: Uncle Wes Marne, Senior Elder, Cllr Brad Bunting, Deputy Mayor Blacktown Council, Hon. Mark Coure MP, Minister for Multiculturalism, Hon Michelle Rowland, Member for Greenway, Shadow Minister for Comms, NSW Labour President.
October 28, 2021 - Afghanistan is facing one of the most complex humanitarian crises of its recent history. This has stemmed from a convergence of the past four decades of imposed conflicts, endemic poverty, the adverse effects of climate change and the impact of the global economic recession due to COVID-19. More importantly, the past six months of extreme violence, failure of the state to provide effective public service, and disruption of the constitutional order have further exacerbated the grim humanitarian landscape across Afghanistan where the imminent collapse of state institutions and economy have pushed the whole Afghan nation to the brink. Consequently, according to the United Nations (UN) agencies, fourteen million Afghans (1 in 3 Afghans) face severe hunger; around three million Afghan children are at risk of acute malnutrition; 22.8 million Afghans could face acute hunger during wintertime; and 97% of all Afghans could plunge into poverty by mid-2022.
The diplomatic missions of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan welcome the convening by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of a high-level ministerial conference on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation last month. Afghans were heartened that over one hundred countries and thirty international and regional organizations participated and generously pledged $1.2 billion—including $606 million for the next four months through the end of December. However, of the latter amount, according to the UN, it has only received $300 million, which is inadequate to address the urgent needs of Afghanistan’s vulnerable groups across the country. Hence, we strongly support the call by Secretary-General Guterres on the international community to expedite the disbursement of their generous financial aid pledges to help avert worst-case scenarios if lifesaving aid fails to reach those in acute need.
Moreover, we underscore with gratitude the provision by the European Union (EU) of $1.2 billion in pledged support for the humanitarian programs in and out of Afghanistan with a focus on the Afghan internally displaced persons, refugees in neighboring countries, as well as asylum seekers.
Knowing from the past experience, we urge that the implementing agencies of the UN, NGOs, and other humanitarian actors take maximum aid effectiveness measures to ensure that assistance is delivered to the most vulnerable people and on the basis of needs alone. This collective effort should help reach more Afghan beneficiaries for assistance and thus save more lives this winter.
The diplomatic missions of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan around the world will offer its full support and assistance to the international assistance community and humanitarian actors to accomplish this extremely important life-saving mission.
We also call on the Taliban to ensure full respect for human rights, international humanitarian law and principles so that the humanitarian aid community can reach out to all our people in need.