UN warns of looming catastrophe in Afghanistan

The United Nations, UN’s Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has warned of a looming “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan.

In a statement on Tuesday, Guterres expressed “grave concern at the deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country and the threat of basic services collapsing completely”.

“Today, almost half of the population of Afghanistan – 18 million people – need humanitarian assistance to survive.

”One in three Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from. More than half of all children under five are expected to become acutely malnourished in the next year. People are losing access to basic goods and services every day,” he said.

His comments come after the US withdrawal of troops from the country.

Guterres urged UN member states to provide funding and help ensure humanitarian workers have funding, access and legal means to stay in the country and deliver aid.

BBC/Mercy Chukwudiebere