UN Co-ordinator for Afghanistan stresses access

United Nations Co-ordinator for Afghanistan Erick de Mul returned from Kabul on 18 May. De Mul spent most of this week in Afghanistan's capital holding discussions with officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. In addition to discussing the current deepening drought affecting the country, the UN Co-ordinator stressed the need for free and unhindered humanitarian access to needy populations in compliance with international humanitarian law.
Since last summer, the United Nations has provided limited assistance to displaced persons who fled their homes due to fighting. At that time, the United Nations called on both parties to the conflict either to accept responsibility for assisting the displaced or to allow them to return to their areas of origin in safety and dignity. There are currently estimated to be over 100,000 people still displaced from the Shamali Valley in both the Panjshir Valley and Kabul City, as well as thousands of displaced persons in other areas. While the United Nations was able to conduct cross lines relief operations into Panjshir in winter, in recent months Taliban authorities have not granted permission for such operations.

In addition, de Mul met with the Minister of Education of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The meeting is one in a series of discussions on education between the Taliban and the United Nations.

Meanwhile, in Badakhshan, this week the World Food Programme kicked off its new Food for Education Programme. In this northern province controlled by the Northern Alliance, girls are allowed to attend school. Nearly 9,000 pupils, teachers and support staff received two months wheat ration in Badakhshan's provincial capital of Faizabad. This year, WFP will provide a food incentive for 20,000 children who attend primary schools in the remote province. Because fewer girls than boys are enrolled in school, they receive greater incentives than boys do.