BRUSSELS: Afghanistan is facing a breakdown of its economic and social systems that risks turning into a humanitarian catastrophe, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Sunday.
Avoiding the worst-case scenario would require the Taliban to comply with conditions that would enable more international assistance, Josep Borrell wrote in a blog post.
“Afghanistan is experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis and a socio-economic collapse is looming, which would be dangerous for Afghans, the region and international security,” Borrell wrote.
Food prices in the country have jumped more than 50 percent since the Taliban took power in August as the freezing of $9 billion of Afghanistan’s assets held in foreign central bank reserves and the withdrawal of foreign income stokes inflation.
The Afghan banking system is largely paralyzed, with people unable to withdraw money, while the country’s health system — which was heavily dependent on foreign aid — is close to collapse, according to Borrell.
“If the situation continues and with winter approaching, this risks turning into a humanitarian catastrophe,” he wrote, adding that this could trigger mass migration into neighboring states.
The 27-country EU has increased its humanitarian aid to Afghanistan since the Taliban took power, but halted its development assistance — a move also taken by other countries and the World Bank.
The EU response to the crisis would depend on the behavior of the new Afghan authorities, Borrell said, and any resumption of relations would require compliance with conditions including human rights.
“This requires above all that the Taliban take the steps that will enable the international community to assist the Afghan people,” he said, adding that female staff from international agencies must be able to do their job.
Widespread reports of human rights abuses and the exclusion of girls from schools have dented optimism that the Taliban’s approach has changed since it first ran Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.
Borrell met Qatari officials last week in the Qatari capital Doha, where the Taliban have a representation.
He said Qatar’s contacts with the Taliban were aimed at moderating their behavior, and urged Doha to use its contacts with them to ensure the “worst scenario” for Afghanistan could be avoided.
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Afghanistan on verge of socio-economic collapse — EU top diplomat
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Afghanistan on verge of socio-economic collapse — EU top diplomat
- $9 billion of Afghanistan’s assets held in foreign central bank reserves have been frozen since the Taliban took power in August
- EU foreign policy chief says Taliban have to comply with conditions that would enable more international assistance
Greenland’s parties say they don’t want to be under US
NUUK: Greenland’s political parties said they did not want to be under Washington as US President Donald Trump again suggested using force to seize the mineral-rich Danish autonomous territory, raising concern worldwide.
The statement late Friday came after Trump repeated that Washington was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.”
European capitals have been scrambling to come up with a coordinated response after the White House said this week that Trump wanted to buy Greenland and refused to rule out military action.
“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders,” the leaders of five parties in Greenland’s parliament said.
“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders.”
“No other country can meddle in this. We must decide our country’s future ourselves — without pressure to make a hasty decision, without procrastination, and without interference from other countries,” they underscored.
Denmark and other European allies have voiced shock at Trump’s threats on Greenland, a strategic island between North America and the Arctic where the United States has had a military base since World War II.
Trump says controlling the island is crucial for US national security given the rising military activity of Russia and China in the Arctic.
“We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland. That’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way,” the US president said Friday.
Both Russia and China have increased military activity in the region in recent years, but neither has laid any claim to the vast icy island.
- Vast natural resources -
Greenland has also attracted international attention in recent years for its vast natural resources including rare earth minerals and estimates that it could possess huge oil and gas reserves.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an invasion of Greenland would end “everything,” meaning the transatlantic NATO defense pact and the post-World War II security structure.
Trump has made light of the concerns of Denmark, a steadfast US ally that joined the United States in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“I’m a fan of Denmark, too, I have to tell you. And you know, they’ve been very nice to me,” Trump said.
“But you know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to meet next week with Denmark’s foreign minister and representatives from Greenland.
A US invasion would pit Washington against fellow NATO member Denmark and threaten to blow up the entire military alliance, which is based on a mutual self-defense clause.
A flurry of diplomacy is under way as Europeans try to head off a crisis while at the same time avoiding the wrath of Trump, who is nearing the end of his first year back in power.
Trump had offered to buy Greenland in 2019 during his first presidential term but was rebuffed.
The head of NATO’s forces in Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, said Friday the military alliance was far from being in “a crisis,” following Trump’s threats to bring Greenland under US control.
“There’s been no impact on my work at the military level up to this point... I would just say that we’re ready to defend every inch of alliance territory still today,” Grynkewich said.
“So I see us as far from being in a crisis right now,” he added.
The statement late Friday came after Trump repeated that Washington was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.”
European capitals have been scrambling to come up with a coordinated response after the White House said this week that Trump wanted to buy Greenland and refused to rule out military action.
“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders,” the leaders of five parties in Greenland’s parliament said.
“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders.”
“No other country can meddle in this. We must decide our country’s future ourselves — without pressure to make a hasty decision, without procrastination, and without interference from other countries,” they underscored.
Denmark and other European allies have voiced shock at Trump’s threats on Greenland, a strategic island between North America and the Arctic where the United States has had a military base since World War II.
Trump says controlling the island is crucial for US national security given the rising military activity of Russia and China in the Arctic.
“We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland. That’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way,” the US president said Friday.
Both Russia and China have increased military activity in the region in recent years, but neither has laid any claim to the vast icy island.
- Vast natural resources -
Greenland has also attracted international attention in recent years for its vast natural resources including rare earth minerals and estimates that it could possess huge oil and gas reserves.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an invasion of Greenland would end “everything,” meaning the transatlantic NATO defense pact and the post-World War II security structure.
Trump has made light of the concerns of Denmark, a steadfast US ally that joined the United States in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“I’m a fan of Denmark, too, I have to tell you. And you know, they’ve been very nice to me,” Trump said.
“But you know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to meet next week with Denmark’s foreign minister and representatives from Greenland.
A US invasion would pit Washington against fellow NATO member Denmark and threaten to blow up the entire military alliance, which is based on a mutual self-defense clause.
A flurry of diplomacy is under way as Europeans try to head off a crisis while at the same time avoiding the wrath of Trump, who is nearing the end of his first year back in power.
Trump had offered to buy Greenland in 2019 during his first presidential term but was rebuffed.
The head of NATO’s forces in Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, said Friday the military alliance was far from being in “a crisis,” following Trump’s threats to bring Greenland under US control.
“There’s been no impact on my work at the military level up to this point... I would just say that we’re ready to defend every inch of alliance territory still today,” Grynkewich said.
“So I see us as far from being in a crisis right now,” he added.
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