Kabul: Five months into its rule over Afghanistan, the Taliban has increased revenues, cracked down on corruption and collected an astonishing $1 billion in exports, the UN representative for the country said.
At the same time, Deborah Lyon, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, stressed the need for the Taliban to be inclusive and guarantee the rights of minorities and women. "An economy thrives only when women and all sections of society are equal partners," she cautioned. Lyons spoke at a one-day economic conference organized by the Taliban - his first such event, held at a time when Afghanistan was on the verge of humanitarian devastation and economic collapse.
Kabul's assets abroad, mainly in the United States, have been frozen since the Taliban took over the country in mid-August. The international community has been hesitant to officially recognize the Taliban government, wary that they may impose some harsh measures under their previous regime from 20 years ago.
The downward spiral has put more than half a million people out of work, according to a report by the International Labor Organization released on Wednesday. Women have suffered the most due to rising unemployment. As thousands of Afghans flee the country every day, companies are struggling to stay afloat, the report said, warning of more dire possibilities in 2022 as work becomes even more scarce.
Women had one in five jobs in Afghanistan in 2020, but are now being barred from working in some sectors. Education for girls has also been limited, although Taliban leaders have said they hope to be able to open all schools for girls across the country after the end of March.
Still, Lyons noted some bright spots, also warning that humanitarian needs are enormous – 1 million children are at risk of starvation, nearly 90 percent of the population is below the poverty level and two-thirds of Afghanistan's starvation. part is at risk. The United Nations has warned that 8.7 million Afghans are on the verge of starvation.