UN chief warns millions of Afghans on 'verge of death', urges int'l community to unfreeze country's assets

The UN chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday urged the international community to fund its USD 5 billion humanitarian appeal and release Afghanistan's frozen assets and resume economic support to the country.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday that millions of Afghans are on the “verge of death," urging the international community to fund the UN's USD 5 billion humanitarian appeal, release Afghanistan's frozen assets and jump-start its banking system to avert economic and social collapse.

The UN chief told reporters that “freezing temperatures and frozen assets are a lethal combination for the people of Afghanistan,” and “rules and conditions that prevent money from being used to save lives and the economy must be suspended in this emergency situation.”