Media Home
UN Web TV
UN PhotoUN / AFGHANISTAN
STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN
TRT: 05:37
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 21 JUNE 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters
21 JUNE 2024, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Many outside Afghanistan tend to underestimate the positive developments that have taken place in Afghanistan, including ongoing humanitarian access, while the de facto authorities tend to underestimate the contributions of the international community to the successes that they claim.”
4. Med shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The engagement of the region in promoting greater trade, diplomatic contacts, and economic investments has improved stability in Afghanistan. These have been aided by much improved security and reduced corruption.”
6. Med shot, OCHA Director, of Financing and Partnerships Division, Afghan Representative
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Yet Afghanistan remains beset by massive poverty that leaves the population even more vulnerable to the many natural disasters that we have seen over the past few years as a result of climate change.”
8. Med shot, OCHA Director of Financing and Partnerships Division, Afghan Representative
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The de facto authorities lack predictable, transparent, and consistent institutions for receiving feedback from the population, where they can approach the de facto authorities without fear.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“We are trying to establish a process and preserve an important mechanism of consultation. We must be realistic about how much each meeting in this process can deliver, especially at this early stage where confidence and trust are insufficient. For this process to truly begin, it is essential that the de facto authorities participate at Doha. We welcome recent statements from the de facto authorities that they are preparing to attend.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“It cannot be repeated enough that this sort of engagement is not legitimization or normalization. Only engagement through a common, coordinated and principled international position can provide a strong incentive for the de facto authorities to adopt policies that would allow for their reintegration into the international community.”
14. Med shot, Special Representative for Afghanistan, delegates
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Doughten, Director, Financing and Partnerships Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“More than 50 per cent of the population – some 23.7 million people – require humanitarian assistance this year, the third highest number of people in need in the world. Half the population lives in poverty. One in four Afghans are uncertain where their next meal will come from. Nearly three million children are experiencing acute levels of hunger.”
16. Med shot, OCHA Director of Financing and Partnerships Division, delegates
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Doughten, Director, Financing and Partnerships Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“Extreme weather events are more frequent and more intense. Some areas in Afghanistan have warmed at twice the global average since 1950. Decreasing rainfall and recurring drought-like conditions have contributed to a large-scale water crisis. Annual droughts are now predicted to be the norm by 2030.”
18. Wide shot, Security Council
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Doughten, Director, Financing and Partnerships Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“The ban on girls' education is fueling an increase in child marriage and early childbearing, with dire physical, emotional, and economic consequences. Reports of attempted suicides among women and girls are also increasing.”
20. Wide shot, Security Council
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires to the United Nations, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“Afghanistan's well-being, prosperity, and security are not just domestic concerns but are deeply connected to regional and global stability. At this critical juncture, we urge solidarity and consensus among Security Council members. Unified support and action are essential to address Afghanistan's multifaceted crisis.”
22. Wide shot, Security Council
23. Wide shot, ambassadors walking to stakeout
24. SOUNDBITE (English) Joonkook Hwang, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Republic of Korea:
“The international community should scale up holistic efforts to ensure that addressing climate change in Afghanistan contributes to our common goal of peace, stability, and inclusive development in the country.
25. Wide shot, ambassadors leaving stakeout
26. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Doha political process it's just beginning. We couldn't provide so far, Taliban to come. They are coming now. We’ll speak about the most important acute issues of life today.”
27. Zoom in, Special Representative for Afghanistan at stakeout
28. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“First time, first time these special envoys of all the countries they will face to face with Taliban. They would tell them that ‘look, it doesn't work like this, and you should have women around the table.’”
29. Wide shot, Special Representative for Afghanistan leaving stakeout
UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva said, “Many outside Afghanistan tend to underestimate the positive developments that have taken place in Afghanistan, including ongoing humanitarian access, while the de facto authorities tend to underestimate the contributions of the international community to the successes that they claim.”
Addressing the Security Council today (21 Jun) Otunbayeva said, “The engagement of the region in promoting greater trade, diplomatic contacts, and economic investments has improved stability in Afghanistan. These have been aided by much improved security and reduced corruption.”
She continued, “Yet Afghanistan remains beset by massive poverty that leaves the population even more vulnerable to the many natural disasters that we have seen over the past few years as a result of climate change.”
She added, “The de facto authorities lack predictable, transparent, and consistent institutions for receiving feedback from the population, where they can approach the de facto authorities without fear.”
About the Doha meeting, scheduled to take place on 30 June, the Special Representative for Afghanistan said, “We are trying to establish a process and preserve an important mechanism of consultation. We must be realistic about how much each meeting in this process can deliver, especially at this early stage where confidence and trust are insufficient. For this process to truly begin, it is essential that the de facto authorities participate at Doha. We welcome recent statements from the de facto authorities that they are preparing to attend.”
She stressed, “It cannot be repeated enough that this sort of engagement is not legitimization or normalization. Only engagement through a common, coordinated and principled international position can provide a strong incentive for the de facto authorities to adopt policies that would allow for their reintegration into the international community.”
Also addressing the Council today, Lisa Doughten, Director of the Financing and Partnerships Division in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said, “More than 50 per cent of the population – some 23.7 million people – require humanitarian assistance this year, the third highest number of people in need in the world. Half the population lives in poverty. One in four Afghans are uncertain where their next meal will come from. Nearly three million children are experiencing acute levels of hunger.”
She also said, “Extreme weather events are more frequent and more intense. Some areas in Afghanistan have warmed at twice the global average since 1950. Decreasing rainfall and recurring drought-like conditions have contributed to a large-scale water crisis. Annual droughts are now predicted to be the norm by 2030.”
She added, “The ban on girls' education is fueling an increase in child marriage and early childbearing, with dire physical, emotional, and economic consequences. Reports of attempted suicides among women and girls are also increasing.”
Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Afghan Chargé d'Affaires to the United Nations said, “Afghanistan's well-being, prosperity, and security are not just domestic concerns but are deeply connected to regional and global stability. At this critical juncture, we urge solidarity and consensus among Security Council members. Unified support and action are essential to address Afghanistan's multifaceted crisis.”
Earlier this morning, Joonkook Hwang, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations briefed reporters on behalf of the Members of the Security Council that have joined the "Joint Pledges" on Climate, Peace and Security (France, Guyana, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States).
He said, “The international community should scale up holistic efforts to ensure that addressing climate change in Afghanistan contributes to our common goal of peace, stability, and inclusive development in the country.
Also talking to the press earlier this morning, UN Special Representative for Afghanistan said, “Doha political process it's just beginning. We couldn't provide so far, Taliban to come. They are coming now. We’ll speak about the most important acute issues of life today.”
She also said, “First time, first time these special envoys of all the countries they will face to face with Taliban. They would tell them that ‘look, it doesn't work like this, and you should have women around the table.’”
Download
There is no media available to download.
Related Content
UN / AFGHANISTAN
The situation in Afghanistan - Security Council, 9998th meeting…
