UN’s Niklasson calls for increased aid for Afghans

KABUL (TOLOnews): The European Union’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson said that Afghanistan is facing a harsh winter and that the “UN humanitarian appeal is only funded at 45 percent.”
Niklasson in a series of tweets urged Russia, China and the OIC members to take significant steps to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, and to “follow the example of the UK, the US, the EU.”
The EU special envoy recently paid a visit to Afghanistan.
Earlier, speaking at a press conference in Kabul, the EU special envoy said that the “Taliban should ensure that schools open throughout the country for boys and girls, young women and men to prepare the next generation of Afghanistan who can become the first Afghan generation in four decades not to experience insurgency or war.”
Niklasson said on Twitter that the “authorities” must respond firmly to the increasing number of “terrorist attacks” in Afghanistan.
“They have an obligation to protect all Afghans and bring perpetrators to justice under due process. They must also prevent the use of Afghan soil for threatening other countries,” he said.
The EU envoy also expressed concerns over the deterioration of human rights conditions in the country.
“Major concerns include the regression in women’s and girls’ right to education, to work and to participate in social and political life, the rights of Hazaras and other minorities, and severe restrictions on the freedom of expression,” Niklasson said.
He argued that inclusivity is a path to legitimacy and stabilization of Afghanistan and region.
“The EU remains committed to engagement, based on non-recognition and our benchmarks,” he said. “This is a better course of action than closing doors.”