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UN diplomat Martin Griffiths with Taliban representatives in Kabul
Photo: SOCIAL MEDIA / via REUTERS
In view of the looming humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, the United Nations emergency aid coordinator, Martin Griffiths, met the Taliban leadership in Kabul.
According to the UN in New York, Griffiths spoke on Sunday with the Taliban deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who is being traded as the country's possible future head of government after the militant Islamists came to power.
Griffiths reaffirmed the will of the international community to provide Afghanistan with relief supplies, it said.
At the same time, the UN diplomat called on the Taliban to respect the rights of women and minorities.
According to the UN, the new leadership in Kabul promised to guarantee the safety of all humanitarian workers - men and women.
The United Nations announced a high-level aid conference for Afghanistan on Friday.
The ministerial meeting is due to take place in Geneva on September 13th.
Almost half of the 38 million people in Afghanistan need assistance, according to UN information.
Every third Afghan does not know where their next meal will come from.
nek / dpa
