Bulgaria will continue to take an active part in the international community's efforts to help the people of Afghanistan
14 September 2021 News
Bulgaria will continue to actively participate in the efforts of the international community to help the people of Afghanistan, said Deputy Minister Zaritsa Dinkova, who represented our country at the UN conference on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
"We share the serious concern about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, which threatens to jeopardize the country's political, economic and social achievements over the past 20 years. The risk for stability and security extends throughout the region and far beyond," said Zaritsa Dinkova in her address during the forum, which was held on 13th September 2021 via videoconference.
In her speech, she stressed the need for a joint effort by the international community to tackle the crisis in Afghanistan and called for close co-operation in finding lasting solutions to help the Afghan people.
Deputy Minister Dinkova expressed concern over the growing number of Afghan citizens in neighbouring countries and stressed the need for efforts to keep humanitarian corridors open to people leaving Afghanistan for security reasons. "Close co-operation with neighbouring countries must be a priority for the international community," she said.
Bulgaria will continue to work with international partners on lasting solutions for Afghan refugees, including the predictable, safe, orderly and dignified return and reintegration of Afghan citizens from neighbouring countries, Zaritsa Dinkova said. Through the Official Development Assistance for 2021, our country will provide financial support for Afghanistan, directed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF - the UN Children's Fund, which works in 190 countries and territories to uphold the rights of children.
The need for a strong and consolidated approach of the international community to address the urgent need of the Afghan population for food, medicine, vaccines against Covid 19, basic social services was also pointed out by Deputy Minister Dinkova. She expressed concern about reports of serious human rights violations in Afghanistan, especially as regards the rights of girls and women. "The new authorities in Kabul must guarantee free humanitarian access to vulnerable groups, giving priority to women and children, in strict accordance with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence," the deputy minister said.
Deputy Minister Dinkova described enhanced co-operation with the UN and regional organizations as an imperative to address urgent humanitarian needs in Afghanistan and beyond, especially with displaced persons.
The UN Conference on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan aims to emphasize the need for urgent action by international partners to support the Afghan people during this difficult period and to declare their commitment to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to millions of people in need in Afghanistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the international community to provide $ 606 million in emergency aid to 11 million people in Afghanistan over the next four months. He announced at the end of the forum that more than $ 1 billion had been promised by the participating countries.