Joyce Msuya (OCHA) on the humanitarian situation…

Thank you, Madame President. I will build upon the words of my colleague, the SpecialRepresentative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, on the humanitariansituation.

The people of Afghanistan face persistent and acute humanitarian needs compounded by decades ofconflict, entrenched poverty, an ever-harsher climate, severe restrictions on the rights of women andgirls and highly constrained funding environment.

Half of the population needs humanitarian assistance, with hunger, protracted displacement, andlimited access to essential services.

While words often fall short, the numbers speak with clarity.

One in every five Afghans is hungry. 3.5 million children are acutely malnourished. An estimated3.7 million children are out of school, including 2.2 million girls over the age of 11 banned fromeducation due to restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities. The maternal mortality rate is over2.5 times the global average. Over 600,000 Afghans have returned this year from Iran and Pakistan,including many women, even as resources and services are struggling to cope.

Parts of the country stand on the cusp of drought once again – the fourth time in just five years.Kabul risks becoming the first city in modern times to run out of water, as water levels within itsaquifers have dropped by up to 30 meters in the past decade due to urbanization and climate change.Almost half of the city's boreholes have dried out.

The UN and partners are doing their best to stave off the worst impacts of climate shocks, includingwith a $16.6 million allocation in April by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, from the CentralEmergency Response Fund.

Funding cuts continue to hinder the humanitarian response. 420 health facilities have been forcedshut due to lack of funding, depriving more than 3 million Afghans of lifesaving health services.Almost 300 nutrition sites have closed, depriving 80,000 acutely malnourished children, pregnantwomen, and new mothers of essential treatment. The impacts of cuts were the harsh reality for thewomen and health care workers that the Emergency Relief Coordinator met in Kabul, Kandahar andKunduz during his visit in April.

Madame President, since the Taliban took power, almost four years ago in August, Afghan womenand girls have borne the worst impacts of the crisis.

The UN and its partners have consistently advocated for the participation of Afghan women in thehumanitarian response. As we heard from SRSG Otunbayeva, their ability to work freely, withoutharassment, intimidation or the threat of violence is urgent. We renew our call for them to be allowedto work safely and without restriction.

Despite challenges, and at great risk, our Afghan female colleagues continue to deliver aid, goingwhere others cannot, listening to communities who would otherwise not be heard, and standing bythose who might otherwise be forgotten. In support of local partnerships, the AfghanistanHumanitarian Fund recently launched a $2.4 million allocation dedicated entirely to national actors,including 18 women-led organizations.

Madame President, this is OCHA's seventh briefing to the Council since the adoption of the'humanitarian exception' in Security Council Resolution 2615. As we have previously shared withthe Council, Resolution 2615 is vital to life-saving humanitarian action in Afghanistan.Since 15 August 2021, US$7.8 billion in humanitarian funding have allowed us to help the mostvulnerable people in Afghanistan. This funding has saved countless lives, reducing the number ofthose experiencing food insecurity, providing essential health services, and supporting peopleaffected by displacement, earthquakes, droughts and floods.

These achievements have been possible because the humanitarian exception covers expenditureswhich are necessary to deliver humanitarian assistance. This includes:

 Rent on state-owned premises and warehouses; Withholding tax on national/international NGO staff income, rent and suppliers; Visas and work permits for national/international NGO staff; Fees for imports; Utilities such as water and electricity; and Licenses for NGO registration, communications equipment and municipal charges.

The nature and modality of payments made under the exception have remained unchanged over thepast four years. They are the same payments and modalities carried out before August 2021, underthe former administration of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

These expenses are essential, planned, and budgeted operational costs—critical to carrying outhumanitarian assistance across Afghanistan. They are in line with payments we have to make toauthorities in every country where humanitarian assistance is implemented.

Madame President, in an environment as complex as Afghanistan, risks may manifest themselvesthrough attempts to interfere with aid distribution or pressures to amend beneficiary lists. Risks applyto both in-kind and cash programming.

Humanitarians make every effort to ensure that aid reaches the people who need it. Steps are taken toprevent diversion, including in the assessment, planning, distribution, and monitoring phases,applying standards in line with best practices. In-kind and cash assistance is allocated based onrigorous needs and vulnerability assessments and governed by clearly defined criteria, withdistributions safeguarded by vetted beneficiary lists, ID checks and biometric authentication, andreinforced by in-person monitoring. This past year, we strengthened our risk managementprocedures.

A Risk Mitigation Matrix is regularly reviewed, and a risk register is updated to identify and addresspotential aid diversion channels.

Monthly post-distribution monitoring exercises assess indicators to detect irregularities in cashassistance, including aid diversion. To minimize risks even further, some humanitarian partners have
also digitized the payment process from source to beneficiary. OCHA has delivered training on risksof aid diversion in cash and voucher assistance, reaching staff across more than 50 organizations.Financial service providers engaged by humanitarian partners for aid distribution also undergorigorous due diligence. Measures include a detailed vetting for all suppliers and partners, with annualrescreening, and contractual clauses to ensure compliance, including termination clauses whensanction breaches are identified.

If aid diversion ever does occur, we take action by ceasing distributions; engaging with entities atcentral and regional level; establishing compliance criteria for resumption of aid; and ensuring thatdonors are informed.

Madame President, the high levels of needs in Afghanistan outpace the funding available to supportpeople.

We are halfway through the year, and the humanitarian response plan is under 21 per cent funded,with a gap of US $ 1.9 billion. Due to cuts, we have hyper-prioritized the response to focus on themost critical needs of 12.5 million people in the most severely affected districts, down from an initialtarget of 16.8 million people.

We had to de-prioritize lower-severity areas – not because needs have disappeared, but becauseresources are not enough. Our response has continued, but our ability to reach those in need hasdiminished.

Cuts have had a particular impact on support to women. Organizations are finding it more difficult tobear mahram costs, where women need to be escorted by men when traveling, and other costs relatedto 'sharia compliant' employment of women. Reduced movements result in reduced reach, such asbasic health services to women.

To mitigate the impact of reduced resources, humanitarian partners in Afghanistan are implementingan ambitious reform of the coordination architecture. In line with the "Humanitarian Reset", it willfurther enhance efficiencies, accountability, and impact.

For the people of Afghanistan, Madame President, allow me to conclude with three asks:First, continue to strengthen the implementation of the 'humanitarian exception' in Security CouncilResolution 2615.

Second, support the resilience of Afghan communities by increasing investments in agriculture,health systems and other vital services. The humanitarian response alone will never fully address thescale of what is required.

And third, fund our humanitarian work.

Madame, President, the needs of the Afghan people must not be forgotten. Thank you.