![UNAMA's Indrika Ratwatte highlights UN support for Afghanistan on climate, refugees, private sector, and counter-narcotics. [Image via Tolo News]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/vlcsnap-2025-02-05-21h28m12s225.webp)
Indrika Ratwatte, deputy special representative (development) for Afghanistan in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told TOLOnews that the UN will focus on assisting Afghanistan, combating drugs, and developing the private sector in the Doha Process Working Group meeting.
Ratwatte, who recently traveled to Helmand and Kandahar provinces, stated that addressing the impact of climate change in the southern region and the refugee crisis are among their priorities for 2025.
During this trip, he met with local officials from Helmand and Kandahar provinces as well as various community representatives.
The UNAMA deputy added: “I am happy to say under the Doha process two working groups are established with the de facto authorities, international community and the UN and they are exactly on these two areas—private sector support—as I mentioned and—support to counter narcotics—which is alternative livelihood for farmers and treating drug addicted individuals to come out of addiction and giving them livelihood training that they don’t get to go back to poppy stage or poppy.”
Ratwatte also stated that in addition to addressing some challenges in the southern region in 2025, efforts will be made to mitigate the effects of climate change, manage the migration crisis, develop alternative crops, and address other issues.
Ratwatte emphasized: “My central message is—we are here to support the people of Afghanistan, we want to work together for them and also telling the authorities that is their responsibility to help us and our partners to do incredible amount of work delivering, to create an enabling environment for us and also when we have issues whether their restrictions and policies that impact our work reaching communities we have open dialogue and we try to find solutions.”
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The Islamic Emirate has stressed the transparency of humanitarian aid and has urged the United Nations to implement fundamental and infrastructural projects to improve people’s lives.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated: “The Afghan people’s request from the United Nations is that aid should be delivered transparently to those in need and that cooperation should be effectively organized to bring real change in people’s lives. Funds should be spent on projects essential to the Afghan people so that their businesses can flourish and they can stand on their own feet.”
The UN official also stressed support for women’s rights to education and work in Afghanistan, as well as the development of Islamic banking and small enterprises.
This news is sourced from Tolo News and is intended for informational purposes only.
