UN / AFGHANISTAN UPDATE

Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York that “while the armies have left, the UN is committed to staying” in Afghanistan. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:53
• Production Date: 31 August 2021
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN - UNAMA
• Subject Topical: AVIATION SECURITY; GOVERNANCE; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: AFGHANISTAN
• MAMS Id: 2649916
• Parent Id: 2649916
• Alternate Title: unifeed210831a

Description

STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN UPDATE
TRT: 02:53
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 31 AUGUST 2021, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior

31 AUGUST 2021, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric at the dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Our humanitarian colleagues in Afghanistan tell us that, today, while the armies have left, the UN is committed to staying in the country. Operations to supply medical and humanitarian goods, as well as to support in other materials are continuing, but more resources are needed. Our colleagues have already delivered humanitarian aid to 8 million people was delivered since the start of the year. The current funding appeal for OCHA of $1.3 billion is only 39 percent funded up to now, and we may have new appeals may be coming up.”
4. Wide shot, Dujarric at the dais
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“In a joint statement, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba and the Special Representative on Violence against Children, Najat Maalla M’jid, today called on the Taliban and other parties in Afghanistan to respect the dignity and human rights of all Afghans, including boys and girls. They noted that at least 45 percent of the Afghan population is below the age of 15, and that the international community must not abandon the children of that country. The two UN Officials strongly condemn the horrific and deadly attack against Kabul airport in which children have reportedly been killed and maimed. They are particularly concerned about the rights of girls, including sexual and gender-based violence as well as their right to education. Ms. Gamba and Ms. Maalla M’jid said that the children of Afghanistan have suffered enough. They stressed that protecting the rights of all Afghans, including the rights of children is the only sustainable solution to peace.”
6. Wide shot, Dujarric at the dais
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“It’s very important that people in any country have the right choose whether they want to stay, whether they want to leave. Our concern is about an expected flow, a massive flow of people trying to leave Afghanistan who are fleeing persecution, who may be fleeing violence, and it is important that in the immediate phase the neighbouring countries open up their door. We do not want to see any refoulement – to use a refugee law term – people who are refugees who are seeking safety have a right to be granted protection. But also, it is important to know that the global responsibility towards Afghan refugees is not limited to those countries which happen to be bordering Afghanistan. It will need a global show of solidarity.”
8. Wide shot, end of presser

Storyline

Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric today (31 Aug) told journalists in New York that “while the armies have left, the UN is committed to staying” in Afghanistan.

Dujarric said, “operations to supply medical and humanitarian goods, as well as to support in other materials are continuing, but more resources are needed. Our colleagues have already delivered humanitarian aid to 8 million people was delivered since the start of the year. The current funding appeal for OCHA of $1.3 billion is only 39 percent funded up to now, and we may have new appeals may be coming up.”

Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba and the Special Representative on Violence against Children, Najat Maalla M’jid, called on the Taliban and other parties in Afghanistan “to respect the dignity and human rights of all Afghans, including boys and girls,” the spokesperson said, adding that the two UN Officials “strongly condemn the horrific and deadly attack against Kabul airport in which children have reportedly been killed and maimed.”

Responding to a journalist’s question, Dujarric said, “it’s very important that people in any country have the right choose whether they want to stay, whether they want to leave. Our concern is about an expected flow, a massive flow of people trying to leave Afghanistan who are fleeing persecution, who may be fleeing violence, and it is important that in the immediate phase the neighbouring countries open up their door. We do not want to see any refoulement – to use a refugee law term – people who are refugees who are seeking safety have a right to be granted protection. But also, it is important to know that the global responsibility towards Afghan refugees is not limited to those countries which happen to be bordering Afghanistan. It will need a global show of solidarity.”

In a statement issued also today, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed “grave concern at the deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country and the threat of basic services collapsing completely.”

He urged member states “to dig deep for the people of Afghanistan in their darkest hour of need” as well as “to provide timely, flexible and comprehensive funding. I urge them to help ensure humanitarian workers have the funding, access, and legal safeguards they need to stay and deliver.”