UN Seeks $600 Million to Tackle Looming Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan 

GENEVA - A U.N.-sponsored high-level ministerial meeting on Afghanistan next week will seek to raise $606 million to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance for nearly 11 million people until the end of the year.   U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns Afghanistan is facing a looming humanitarian catastrophe.  The U.N. Chief will travel to Geneva to convene next Monday’s meeting to gain the support of the international community to address the growing needs in the country.     

The United Nations reports nearly half of Afghanistan’s population of 38 million needs humanitarian aid.  Among them are 3.5 million people internally displaced by conflict.   The U.N. Children’s Fund reports 600,000 children under age five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, a dangerous condition that could kill them if they do not receive emergency aid.    Spokesman for the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs Jens Laerke says the appeal will provide treatment for more than a million children and women suffering from acute malnutrition.  He says the appeal also aims to deliver critical food, essential health services, water and sanitation, emergency education, shelter, and other relief.