“The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan remains really dire,” Babar Baloch, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commmissioner for Refugees, said in an interview in Islamabad. Most of the nation’s international assistance has been cut off, though there are exceptions for humanitarian aid. Billions of dollars in central bank assets held abroad have also been frozen, which has put pressure on the banking system. Baloch added there were new challenges since the collapse of the government and the takeover of the country by the Taliban administration. The lack of commercial flights meant supplies needed to be taken in on special flights or by road.
