NEW YORK — The United Nations Security Council is set to hold its quarterly briefing on Afghanistan this month, providing an update on the country’s humanitarian, political, and security challenges.
According to information provided by the UNSC website, the session, scheduled for December, will feature presentations from key stakeholders, followed by closed consultations.
Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), will lead the briefing.
She will be joined by Ambassador Andrés Montalvo Sosa of Ecuador, in his role as chair of the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee, as well as representatives from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and civil society organizations.
Focus on sanctions and monitoring
According to UNSC, during the session, the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the Monitoring Team that supports the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee.
This committee oversees sanctions related to individuals and entities associated with the Taliban and affiliated groups, aiming to monitor compliance and address emerging threats.
The renewal comes as Afghanistan continues to face mounting international scrutiny over human rights violations and concerns about the resurgence of militant activity.
The UN briefing is also expected to spotlight Afghanistan’s deepening humanitarian crisis, which has left millions in need of assistance.
A representative from OCHA will provide an update on relief efforts amid ongoing challenges, including restricted access for aid workers and the exclusion of women from critical sectors by the Taliban.
At the session, UNAMA’s current mandate extends until March 17, 2025.
Observers expect the session to highlight both the international community’s concerns and its ongoing commitment to supporting the Afghan people during one of the most precarious periods in the country’s modern history.
