UN Urges Taliban To Restore Internet Access Immediately
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Tuesday urged the Taliban to immediately restore nationwide internet and telecommunications services.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Tuesday urged the Taliban to immediately restore nationwide internet and telecommunications services.
The UN agency warned that the shutdown has cut the country off from the world and threatens to deepen an already dire humanitarian crisis.
In a statement, UNAMA said the blackout risks causing serious harm to the Afghan people, destabilising the economy, and worsening one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
The mission warned of wide-ranging consequences, including disruption to banking and financial systems, restrictions on women’s and girls’ access to health care and education, difficulties in sending remittances, damage to the aviation sector, and limited access to emergency services. It also said the move has severely curtailed freedom of expression and access to information.
UNAMA noted that the shutdown comes as Afghanistan faces major earthquakes in the east, with women and girls making up more than half of the casualties, and amid the mass forced return of refugees from neighbouring countries. Cutting off communications in such circumstances, it said, endangers lives.
The mission added that it remains in contact with Taliban officials, under its UN Security Council mandate, to support the people of Afghanistan.
