KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban have pledged to facilitate the work of international aid organizations, despite previous reports from the United Nations and relief agencies citing interference in humanitarian operations.
Nooruddin Turabi, head of the Taliban-run disaster management authority, made the commitment during a meeting with Mutinta Chimuka, the head of the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) in Afghanistan, according to a statement from the agency.
Chimuka emphasized the need for continued cooperation to ensure timely assistance for vulnerable families, the statement said.
However, the U.N. has previously reported that restrictions imposed by Afghan authorities have hampered relief efforts. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted in its December report that interference from the country’s rulers had created challenges for aid delivery.
The WFP, in its November report, classified Afghanistan as one of 22 nations facing a severe hunger crisis, with 12.4 million people experiencing acute food insecurity.
Many Afghans, the agency warned, are struggling to secure their next meal.
