Life-saving medical supplies arrived in Afghanistan by air on Monday, the first UN cargo since the Taliban took over the country more than a week ago, as UN human rights experts urged the country's new rulers to keep their vow to fully protect women and girls' rights.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the news, stating that the successful airlift allowed it to “partially replenish” health facility reserves, allowing services to continue for the time being.
On a jet sent by the Pakistani government, 12.5 metric tonnes of supplies arrived at Mazar-i-northern Sharif's airport.
The consignment contained enough trauma and emergency health kits to meet the basic health needs of over 200,000 people, as well as 3500 surgical procedures and the treatment of 6500 trauma patients, according to the WHO.
According to the UN organisation, the supplies would be sent immediately to 40 health facilities in 29 provinces across Afghanistan.
The supplies were loaded into the plane by WHO's logistics crew at the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, earlier on Monday.
It's the first of three flights with Pakistan International Airlines designed to meet Afghanistan's urgent need for medicines and medical supplies.
Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, remarked, "The Pakistani people's contribution has been timely and life-saving."
While WHO is working with partners to increase the number of shipments to the country, the agency has stated that a dependable humanitarian air bridge is urgently needed to scale up the overall humanitarian effort.
Tens of millions of Afghans are still vulnerable, and the process of satisfying their needs is just getting started, according to the agency, which also stated that the world cannot now turn its attention away from the Afghan people at this vital time.
Filippo Grandi has added his voice to the call of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, urging the international community to assist the many millions of people in need in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries.
The UN Refugee Chief, in a Monday appeal for long-term solutions for Afghans whose lives have been damaged by 40 years of conflict, said that while many have managed to go through Kabul airport, “there will still be millions who require the international community to act.”
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) have urged the Taliban to keep their promise to protect Afghan women and girls, as well as to respect and implement the human rights enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In a statement, the independent rights experts said, "As the planned withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan approaches, the committees encourage the Taliban and all other parties to take measures to protect the lives and respect the human rights of women and children."
They expressed concern about "restrictive practises and ongoing reports of targeted attacks on women and girls, including academics, health workers, human rights defenders, media workers, civil servants, and many others who have contributed to the country's development over the past 20 years, as well as those exercising their right to education," according to the statement.
"Excessive and arbitrary limits on women's and girls' rights to freedom of movement and speech, education, labour, and participation...are incompatible with the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination," the statement stated.
"Both committees urge those in authority and exercising effective control in Afghanistan to uphold the core precepts of international human rights and humanitarian law, including their duty of care to prevent and protect women and girls from gender-based violence and discrimination."
The committees "ask the Taliban to fulfil their own vows and not to let history repeat itself," according to the statement, noting that the Taliban has published a series of statements in recent days referring to their plans to build an inclusive government and enable women to work freely.
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