The Pakistani High Commissioner to Nigeria, Retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Azam, has called for Nigerian Government’s support at the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to end humanitarian crises in Afghanistan.
Azam made the call in a statement by the High Commission in Abuja and made available to the phenomenal on Thursday, that the OIC was scheduled to hold in Dec. 19 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The Ambassador expressed confidence in the contribution Nigeria would make at the Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad, to resolve the Afghanistan humanitarian situation and galvanise international support.
According to the statement, the High Commissioner says he looks forward to the participation of Nigeria at the Session, which will be preceded by a Senior Official Meeting on Dec. 18 to determine the needs and assistance required.
Nigeria has been invited as a permanent member of the OIC and has the experience and wisdom to contribute effectively to this meeting and come up with recommendations and resolutions that will convince the international community and donor countries of the need to intervene to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.
“The meeting, which has been convened by Saudi Arabia as the OIC President and welcomed by Pakistan, is expected to be attended by all OIC Member and Observer States, the UN system, International Financial Institutions and some non-member States including the UN Security Council 5 permanent members, China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States.
“The goal is to draw the attention of the international community that the unfolding situation in Afghanistan is not only a humanitarian challenge but could also exacerbate the security situation, spurring instability, causing mass exodus of refugees, and adversely affecting regional and international peace and security,” he said.
Azam also recalled that in January 1980, Pakistan had hosted the 1st Extraordinary Session of the OIC foreign ministers on the situation in Afghanistan, and after 42 years it was holding the same meeting.
He added that it was in a bid to play a part in containing and reversing the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, especially in terms of food shortages, displacement of people and potential economic collapse.
According to the United Nations’ estimates, 38 million Afghans or 60 per cent of the total population, are now at risk of famine and 3 million Afghan children are facing malnutrition.
It added that the upcoming harsh winter would further worsen the health and living conditions of the population and could aggravate into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
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The High Commissioner explained that his country counts on the full support of the OIC member States and the International Community to provide the necessary support to the Afghan people.
He noted that the Extraordinary Session would be an opportunity to consider practical and concrete steps to help address the humanitarian needs of these people.
“Concrete pledges by the international community including the OIC Member States of financial and in-kind support will be important,” he said.
