Over 22mn Afghans rely on emergency humanitarian assistance, making Afghanistan one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea, Chargé d’Affaires, said during a UN Security Council briefing on Afghanistan.
Shea highlighted the dire conditions in the country, emphasizing that the Taliban’s restrictive policies and economic mismanagement are driving displacement, straining regional stability, and worsening the humanitarian situation. She commended the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for its role in delivering aid, promoting governance, and reporting on human rights abuses despite challenging conditions.
“The security threat emanating from Afghanistan remains a key driver of regional instability,” Shea stated, referencing a February report by the UN’s 1267 Monitoring Team, which raised concerns over terrorism in the country.
She specifically cited the transnational threat posed by ISIS-K and called on the Taliban to uphold their counterterrorism commitments.
Shea also condemned the Taliban’s policies targeting women and girls, noting that more than 80 edicts have restricted their access to education, employment, and public life.
“The December ban on women attending medical institutes will have dire consequences for all Afghans,” she warned, urging the UN to take a stronger stance against the Taliban’s actions.
Expressing skepticism about the Taliban’s commitment to the Doha Process, Shea stated that the group’s history of harboring terrorist organizations and its continued detainment of foreign nationals undermine trust. “We cannot build confidence with a group that ignores the basic rights and needs of its own people,” she asserted.
The United States reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Security Council to hold the Taliban accountable.
“We look forward to working with members of this Council to maintain consensus on our collective demand that the Taliban act responsibly,” Shea concluded.
