The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
STORYLINE
As winter arrives in Afghanistan, and with “truly unprecedented levels” of hunger, avoiding widespread starvation “is an immediate priority”, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.
“It's a crisis of hunger and starvation. People don't have enough to eat, and it's very visible,” said Babar Baloch UNHCR spokesperson, as the organization launched a global fundraising winter campaign to help forcibly displaced families in Afghanistan and elsewhere to cope with the most life-threatening months of the year.
Speaking in Geneva following his recent return from Kabul, Mr. Baloch pointed out that a lack of insulated shelters, warm clothes, insufficient food, fuel for heating, and medical supplies are just some of the deprivations confronting forcibly displaced people.
With temperatures “expected to drop to minus 25C, many displaced families lack proper shelter – a primary requirement if they are to survive the bitter cold,” he said.
UNHCR is appealing for much more support for 3.5 million people displaced by conflict inside Afghanistan, including 700,000 who were displaced in 2021.
According to Mr. Baloch, nearly 23 million people, or 55 per cent of the population, are facing extreme levels of hunger, and nearly nine million of them are at risk of famine. This year, some 700,000 displaced people across the country have been assisted by UNHCR, the majority since mid-August.
The UN agency is assisting nearly 60,000 people every week. “But as we reach thousands of people, we find thousands more people who are in need of humanitarian assistance, Mr. Baloch explained, before appealing for “further resources for the most vulnerable, like single mothers with no shelter or food for their children” or older persons who have been displaced are left to take care of orphaned grandchildren, and those taking care of loved ones with special needs.
The UNHCR spokesperson noted that relief supplies have been brought in by the agency’s teams by road through Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and humanitarian flights.
Five more flights carrying winter supplies are scheduled for next week, Mr. Baloch said, reiterating that support to cope with the extreme conditions will continue until February 2022, including core relief items, such as thermal blankets and warm winter clothing. Shelters are also being repaired and reinforced, and vulnerable families are being provided with cash assistance.
ends
STORY: UNHCR Afghanistan Winter Campaign
TRT: 3’03”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 3 December 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
1. Exterior wide shot, United Nations flags flying.
2. Medium shot, press conference room (B-128), showing speakers and a technician supervising briefing on Zoom.
3. SOUNDBITE (English): UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), spokesperson, Babar Baloch: “The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is certainly not going away. It’s just increasing and multiplying in its scale. Today we're highlighting the need for displaced Afghans during the winter months. UNHCR, the UN Rfugee Agency, is appealing for much more support amid acute and rising humanitarian needs for some 3.5 million people displaced by conflict only inside Afghanistan.”
4. Medium shot, Mr. Baloch delivering his speech, a large-screen TV showing the press briefing being broadcast on Zoom.
5. SOUNDBITE (English): UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), spokesperson, Babar Baloch: “This figure includes some 700’000 that were displaced during this year in 2021 so far. A lack of insulated shelters, warm clothes, insufficient fuel for heating and inadequate amounts of food and medical supplies are just some of the deprivations that the forcibly displaced are facing in Afghanistan. As temperatures begin to plunge below freezing, being in Kabul and other parts of the country in the night, it's already either already below zero or near zero.”
6. Medium shot, a journalist taking notes of the briefing.
7. SOUNDBITE (English): UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), spokesperson, Babar Baloch: “Temperatures are expected to drop to minus 25 Celsius, and many displaced families lack proper shelters, a primary requirement if they are to survive the bitter cold in Afghanistan. The humanitarian crisis is escalating daily in Afghanistan. Hunger in the country has reached truly unprecedented levels. Nearly 23 million people, that's 55 per cent of the population (who) are facing extreme levels of hunger, and nearly nine million of them are at risk of famine.”
8. Medium shot, journalists attending the press conference and a technician supervising the Zoom meeting.
9. SOUNDBITE (English): UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), spokesperson, Babar Baloch: “Currently, we are able to reach nearly 60’000 people every week. But as we reach thousands of people, we find thousands of people more who are in need of humanitarian assistance. Further resources are urgently needed for the most vulnerable, like single mothers with no shelter or food for their children.”
10. Close-up of participant, podium speakers in the background.
11. SOUNDBITE (English): UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), spokesperson, Babar Baloch: “And it's a race against time, not only catching up to reach more people but also finding more people in Afghanistan that that need our support. And it's a crisis of hunger and starvation. People don't have enough to eat, and it's very visible.”
12. Close-up of podium speakers in profile.
13. Medium shot of journalists taking notes and watching.
14. Medium shot of participant.
15. Medium shot of technician.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA
As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WHO
Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis - UN humanitarians
Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO
UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount
Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday, But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.
1
1
1
Edited News
A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.
1
1
1
Edited News | ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OCHA
Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege
Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO
In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA
Israel’s aid plan will force Gaza families to choose ‘between displacement and death’ – UN humanitarians
Israel’s plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza risks increasing the suffering of families already exhausted by 18 months of war by putting their lives in danger and inciting more displacement, using aid as “bait”, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WHO
UN Humanitarians reject Israeli plan to take over aid delivery
The reported Israeli proposal to deliver humanitarian supplies through hubs controlled by the military would be a breach of the core principles of neutral, impartial and independent aid delivery, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.