UN / AFGHANISTAN UPDATE

Briefing reporters virtually from Kabul, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov said current economic shocks “are the primary drivers” of humanitarian needs in the country. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:40
• Production Date: 30 November 2022
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN - UNAMA
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS; WEATHER
• Geographic Subject: AFGHANISTAN
• MAMS Id: 2989128
• Parent Id: 2989128
• Alternate Title: unifeed221130b

Description

STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN UPDATE
TRT: 01:40
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 30 NOVEMBER 2022, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters

30 NOVEMBER 2022, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, press room dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan:
“The economic shocks, which we're experiencing these days are the primary drivers of the humanitarian need. Since last August we have seen 20 percent reduction in incomes and in output, 65 percent reduction in public state spendings, and 50 percent decline in households receiving remittances.”
4. Wide shot, press room dais
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan:
“Afghanistan is known for its harsh, harsh winters, imposing on us the need to prioritize our winterization programs. We have identified more than 369 high and medium priority districts. So, 122 are high priority, 247 medium priority districts in all the 34 provinces.”
6. Wide shot, press room dais
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan:
“When the snows melted in spring of this year, we found only a couple of very remote communities in one of the provinces which we were not able to reach. So, every effort will be exercised by us to avoid such situation this year as well. However, our funding levels were lower than last year and unless the prioritized requirements are met, then, the forecast will be commensurate with the scale of funding available.”
8. Wide shot, press room dais

Storyline

Briefing reporters virtually from Kabul, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov today (30 Nov) said current economic shocks “are the primary drivers” of humanitarian needs in the country.

Alakbarov told reporters that “since last August we have seen 20 percent reduction in incomes and in output, 65 percent reduction in public state spendings, and 50 percent decline in households receiving remittances.”

The cost of the basket of essentials has risen in Afghanistan by 30 percent, and as winter approaches, humanitarian needs are expected to raise.

Alakbarov said, “Afghanistan is known for its harsh, harsh winters, imposing on us the need to prioritize our winterization programs. We have identified more than 369 high and medium priority districts. So, 122 are high priority, 247 medium priority districts in all the 34 provinces.”

He said, “when the snows melted in spring of this year, we found only a couple of very remote communities in one of the provinces which we were not able to reach. So, every effort will be exercised by us to avoid such situation this year as well. However, our funding levels were lower than last year and unless the prioritized requirements are met, then, the forecast will be commensurate with the scale of funding available.”

The United Nations estimates that 768 million US dollars are needer to support winter preparedness. The humanitarian response plan is so far between 48 and 49 percent funded.