The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
A "major major" humanitarian crisis is looming in Afghanistan, UNHCR warns
A "major" humanitarian crisis is looming in Afghanistan, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday, amid ongoing uncertainty about the situation for vulnerable Afghans seeking shelter across the country's borders. The “reality is the displacement crisis is inside Afghanistan”, with “more than 600 000 Afghans” displaced this year, “80 per cent of which are women and children,” said UNHCR spokesperson, Babar Baloch, who was speaking from Pakistan. In an appeal to the world not to turn away its attention or focus from Afghans and Afghanistan, he warned that we cannot allow this “to become a humanitarian catastrophe”. Describing the situation at the country’s borders with Pakistan, Mr. Baloch said the UNHCR has “not seen a large refugee influx…crossing over into Pakistan and Iran or other places,”. The explanation for this is unclear: “It could be that some of those people may not think they have the right documents, others may not be so comfortable in terms of confronting armed guards at the borders,” he said. “Afghans are still able to come through Pakistan,” he explained, “but it is very regulated,” and you must show documents such as your ID card, passport or visa. Mr. Baloch’s appeal follows the UNHCR’s repeated call on Tuesday for Afghanistan’s neighbouring States to keep their borders open to those fleeing Afghanistan. Spokesperson Andrej Mahecic warned that many of those wishing to cross into countries such as Pakistan or Iran may not have the documents they need, but may “nevertheless have international protection needs”. Also on Tuesday UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep concern at the deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country and the threat of a total collapse in basic services. “Now more than ever”, said Mr. Guterres, “Afghan children, women and men need the support and solidarity of the international community”. Mr. Guterres and several other senior UN officials restated their commitment to stay and deliver urgently needed supplies to the millions in the country who need humanitarian aid to survive.
ENDS
STORY: Afghanistan Borders Update UNHCR
TRT: 02:33”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 03 Sept 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Exterior wide shot, United Nations flag flying.
2. Wide shot, briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Babar Baloch, UNHCR spokesperson: “Afghanistan has an internally displacement crisis that we have been trying to talk about, what we are emphasising is that that cannot be allowed to become a humanitarian catastrophe and that's why we have been trying to appeal to the world that don't turn away your attention or focus at this stage from Afghans and Afghanistan”.
4.Mid of cameraman
5. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Babar Baloch, UNHCR spokesperson: “Afghans are still able to come through Pakistan. We have some reports of Iran and other locations, but it is very regulated and then managed flow at the borders. So you need to have your documents to show it could be your ID card. It could be a passport. It could be a visa”.
6.Close of journalist writing
7. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Babar Baloch, UNHCR spokesperson: “So far, what we have not seen is a large refugee influx in terms of a big number crossing over into Pakistan and Iran or other places, we're still trying to analyse what are the reasons behind it. It could be that some of those people may not think they have the right documents, others may not be so comfortable in terms of confronting armed guards at the borders”.
8.Mid of reporter in briefing room
9. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Babar Baloch, UNHCR spokesperson: “So we're still trying time to analyse in terms of why there are not many people coming, there could be many, many reasons, but the reality is the displacement crisis is inside Afghanistan. I mean, we're talking about more than six hundred thousand Afghans that have been displaced during this year”.
10.Mid or reporters in briefing room
11. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Babar Baloch, UNHCR spokesperson: “If you look at the displacement numbers, 80 per cent are women and children, and we know Afghanistan is a landlocked country. If support, if trade is not going into there, we could be facing a major, major crisis.”
12. Wide of briefing room
13. Wide of cameraman
14. Mid of journalist
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue to kill and injure civilians, and destroy civilian infrastructure, raising concerns regarding the protection of civilians, the UN Human Rights Office warned today.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNWOMEN , UNDP
Sudan: Aid teams report massive displacement after latest Darfur atrocity; women’s bodies ‘turned into battlegrounds’
In Sudan’s North Darfur, tens of thousands of people have fled a displacement camp following the massacre of civilians and aid workers as the country enters the third year of a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | ITC
Global trade could shrink by three per cent as a result of the United States’ new tariff measures which in the longer term could reshape and boost as-yet untapped regional commercial links, a top UN economist confirmed on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Warring parties in Sudan are overseeing a wholesale assault on human rights amid global inaction, the UN Human Rights Office said on Friday, as the conflict is about to enter its third year.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday said Israel’s increasing issuance of so-called “evacuation orders” for Palestinians in Gaza have resulted in their forcible transfer.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNHCR , UNWOMEN , WFP , WHO
Two years of war in Sudan have created epic suffering, aid agencies say
Two years since Sudan’s brutal conflict began, UN agencies warned that famine is spreading and civilians of all ages continue to suffer shocking abuse, including rape and gang rape.
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
In Gaza, ongoing Israeli military operations and the aid blockade have continued to add to daily fears and hardships confronting those in the devastated enclave, the UN Mine Action Service, UNMAS, said on Wednesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNDP
Dangers grow for Myanmar earthquake survivors, health system 'overwhelmed' - UNDP
In earthquake-shattered central Myanmar people are sleeping in the streets in fear of buildings collapsing, facing early monsoon rains and the risk of waterborne diseases, the UN Development Programme warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | ICRC , OHCHR , UNHCR
Myanmar’s military has continued to launch airstrikes and other attacks against opposition forces in the devastated country, one week since a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck and despite announcing a ceasefire, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on Tuesday presented a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, detailing the continued violations of human rights as a result of the offensive launched by the Rwandan-backed M23 in eastern DRC.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , IFRC
UN humanitarians and partners on Tuesday expressed deep shock at the killing of 15 colleagues on duty in southern Gaza whose remains were recovered from a shallow grave after a week-long rescue operation, noting that one worker is still missing.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , OCHA , WHO , UNHCR
Myanmar earthquake latest: window for lifesaving support is closing, say UN humanitarians
As the death toll continues to rise in earthquake-struck Myanmar, UN humanitarians have been rushing to support severely deprived and traumatized victims, warning that the window for lifesaving response is closing.