UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced yesterday that he would be convening an international conference on aid to Afghanistan in Geneva on Sept. 13, reported TASS. Afghanistan is facing a “looming humanitarian catastrophe. The conference will advocate for a swift scale-up in funding so the lifesaving humanitarian operation can continue; and appeal for full and unimpeded humanitarian access to make sure Afghans continue to get the essential services they need,” according to the announcement.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is real and substantial, but recent history suggests that demands for “full and unimpeded access” usually means military occupation of parts of the country at issue, as in Syria. A military reoccupation of Afghanistan, in the name of delivering humanitarian aid, would be opposed by the Taliban, leading to re-igniting the war.
