Kabul, Afghanistan (BBN)– A top United Nations humanitarian official has reaffirmed the Organization’s continued support for Afghanistan and stressed the need for increased investment in programs that expand sources of livelihood and improve basic education, health care and the rule of law.
“We must also invest in efforts to strengthen the resiliency of communities themselves and the capacity of service delivery institutions,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, said as she wound up a four-day visit to assess the country’s humanitarian situation.
“Much has been achieved over the past decade, but Afghanistan remains near the bottom ranking of all human development indicators,” Ms. Amos said, who also serves as the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a UN statement said on Friday.
More than a third of Afghanistan’s population has experienced displacement, including the 5.6 million people who have returned to the country after years living as refugees in other countries, the OCHA said.
An estimated five million Afghans remain in neighboring countries and another 500,000 are internally displaced by conflict, recurring natural disasters and underdevelopment in rural areas.
The UN agency notes that parallel to its humanitarian needs, the country requires longer-term investment in human development and disaster preparedness measures to reduce vulnerability.
BBN/SSR/AD-12May12-1:30pm (BST)
