Afghanistan Peace CampaignFletcher warned that the continued suspension of aid—particularly by the United States — could endanger the lives of millions of Afghans.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs said that normalizing relations between Afghanistan and the international community requires a clear and actionable roadmap.
In an interview with TOLOnews, Tom Fletcher emphasized that without the inclusion of women, humanitarian aid efforts would be ineffective, and existing obstacles must be genuinely assessed and resolved.
He said: “There’s a roadmap and a process to a closer come dialogue a better conversation a more ordinary relationship with the outside world, but it also involves being honest about those obstacles and on both sides, there are significant issues.”
Fletcher warned that the continued suspension of aid—particularly by the United States — could endanger the lives of millions of Afghans.
He added: “I agree, our aid should always be impartial, neutral and independent. Those are the principles that drive our aid work globally, not just in Afghanistan.”
At the same time, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General confirmed that Tom Fletcher met with various organizations during his visit to Afghanistan, including women-led groups.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said: “Today in Kabul, the Under-Secretary-General met with our humanitarian partners on the ground – including NGOs and women-led organizations, as well as representatives of women civil society. Mr. Fletcher wraps up his visit to Afghanistan tomorrow.”
Tom Fletcher arrived in Afghanistan on April 27 and, during his six-day trip, visited Kabul, Kandahar, and Kunduz. He reviewed the situation of citizens firsthand and reaffirmed the UN’s continued humanitarian support.