Afghanistan headed for humanitarian disaster as economy on brink of collapse, says top EU official

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Afghanistan is experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis and a socio-economic collapse is looming in the country which would be dangerous for Afghans, the region and international security, a top European Union official said on Sunday.</p>
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Avoiding the worst-case scenario would require the Taliban to comply with conditions that would enable more international assistance, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a blog post.</p>
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"If the situation continues and with winter approaching, this risks turning into a humanitarian catastrophe," he wrote, adding that this could trigger mass migration into neighbouring states.</p>
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Food prices in the country have jumped more than 50% since the Taliban took power in August with the economy battered by a severe drought.</p>
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The Afghan banking system is largely paralysed, with people unable to withdraw money, while the country's health system, which was heavily dependent on foreign aid, is close to collapse, according to Borrell.</p>
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Desperate to get foreign aid, the Taliban leadership has been trying to present a reformed moderate face but this is turning out to be mere political rhetoric as girls are still not being allowed to attend school and women have been barred from work.</p>
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According to a report in Tolo News, even women teachers in boys schools have been stopped from coming to work.</p>
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The EU response to the crisis would depend on the behaviour of the new Afghan authorities, Borrell said, and any resumption of relations would require compliance with conditions including human rights.</p>
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"This requires above all that the Taliban take the steps that will enable the international community to assist the Afghan people," he said, adding that female staff from international agencies must be able to do their job.</p>
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Borrell met Qatari officials last week in Doha, where the Taliban also has its representatives. He said Qatar's contacts with the Taliban were aimed at moderating their behaviour, and urged Doha to use its contacts with them to ensure the "worst scenario" for Afghanistan could be avoided.</p>