The United Nations Security Council on Thursday approved the extension of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for one year, until March 17, 2024.
The extension was unanimously approved along with another resolution on Afghanistan, which calls on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to conduct an independent investigation to provide an integrated and coherent plan to address the situation in the country with the help of the international community.
The Security Council meeting was organized by the United Arab Emirates and Japan, and in statements by the Emirati UN envoy, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, stressed that »the women and girls of Afghanistan will not be abandoned,» as reported by Tolo News.
Japan’s envoy to the country, Kimihiro Ishikane, acknowledged that »Afghanistan faces enormous challenges», and reproached the Taliban that their »decision to deny women and girls opportunities for education, employment and freedom» only worsens the humanitarian and economic crisis in the country.
The mission, whose renewal is reviewed annually, has 1,187 employees in the country, including 799 Afghans and 293 people of various nationalities. In addition, it has offices in 11 locations inside Afghanistan and a »remote» office in Kazakhstan, opened in September 2021 and focused on refugee assistance.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
