G20 special summit on Afghanistan
“All Afghans have a right to a life in peace, dignity and safety,” said Federal Chancellor Merkel after a virtual special summit on Afghanistan. At the invitation of the Italian presidency, the G20 heads of state and government discussed the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and jointly sought solutions to alleviate the plight of the country’s people.
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Federal Chancellor Merkel after the G20 video conference: all United Nations organisations must have access for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.
Photo: Federal Government/Denzel
“On the German side, we confirmed again today that we will contribute 600 million euros this year to help solve the humanitarian problems,” said Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, following the virtual G20 special summit on Afghanistan. She said that economic collapse in Afghanistan must be prevented.
“It is about the protection of children and women”
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank now faced the great task of preventing the collapse of the payment system in Afghanistan while helping to provide public services, she added.
“Above all, it is also about the protection of children and women,” the Federal Chancellor stressed. As well as addressing the economic and humanitarian challenges, the successful fight against terrorism had to be ensured. Danger for the outside world must not emanate from Afghanistan again, the Federal Chancellor said.
At the end of August, Germany had already promised an additional 100 million euros of humanitarian aid in Afghanistantan. The aid benefits the people directly through partner organisations, such as the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Federal Government substantially relies on the needs identified by the United Nations and the Red Cross / Red Crescent movement for this.
Implementing humanitarian aid
“We demand that all United Nations organisations should have access for the humanitarian aid that they want to implement,” Federal Chancellor Merkel reiterated, adding that humanitarian aid must be provided in line with internationally agreed principles. It was also important for airports in Afghanistan to remain accessible so that the aid could reach the people.
The Group of 20 (G20) is the central forum for international economic cooperation, according to the resolution by its heads of state and government at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh in September 2009. Like the G7, the G20 is an informal forum. It is not an international organisation and it possesses neither its own administrative apparatus nor a permanent member representation.
The regular G20 summit will take place in Rome on 30 and 31 October. Germany most recently hosted a G20 summit in 2017.