UN General Assembly
2021

According to the World Food Programme, one in three people in the country is exposed to food insecurity. Italy has confidence in the ability of the United Nations to coordinate the international humanitarian response, mobilise resources and ensure a rapid and coherent intervention. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for organising the “pledging conference” in Geneva on the 13th September, where countries pledged some $1,2 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. The extraordinary G20 Summit must give its utmost support to these objectives. There has to be full, safe, unhindered and unconditional access for international organisations and humanitarian aid workers. Italy is at the forefront in the response to the humanitarian crisis, for the benefit of the most fragile groups in Afghanistan and of those Afghans who have left — or will leave — the country. We are also ready to intervene in support of neighbouring countries affected by refugee outflows. We have decided to use resources previously earmarked for training Afghan security and defence forces for humanitarian purposes.