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Flags of the proclaimed Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Photo: Bernat Armangue / AP
For the first time since the Taliban came to power, the international community is giving advice on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan at a donor conference.
Shortly before the talks began in Geneva, UN Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
He was received at the airport by the incumbent Afghan refugee minister of the Taliban, Chalil Hakkani, according to a photo published on Twitter.
A humanitarian crisis looms in Afghanistan.
Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) has warned of a further deterioration in the supply situation in the country.
"We must now try to send help in all possible ways," said Müller to the "Rheinische Post".
He also called for a UN emergency aid fund of ten billion euros.
UN aid organizations are available worldwide, but there is always a lack of funding for aid, criticized Müller.
»The food reserves of the World Food Program will only last until the end of September for Afghanistan.
Aid has been cut in Yemen.
We can't accept that just because the money isn't there, ”said Müller.
The German government has spoken out in favor of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.
The donor conference must send a clear message that aid is being given to Afghanistan, Maas said on Monday, according to the manuscript in his speech.
"And we stand by the side of the countries affected by the crisis in Afghanistan - above all Pakistan, Iran and the Central Asian republics," he added.
In addition to the 100 million euros in humanitarian aid, Germany will provide another 500 million euros for Afghanistan and neighboring countries.
The EU is also working on a pact with neighboring countries to strengthen them, said the SPD politician, referring to the expected refugee movements from Afghanistan.
Heiko Maas is currently ruling out any involvement that goes beyond emergency aid.
"Any engagement in Afghanistan that goes beyond pure emergency aid is still out of the question," he said before leaving for Geneva.
"The actions of the Taliban alone will decide whether this line can be adjusted in the future."
First commercial flight to Kabul since the Taliban came to power
An important supply route for Afghanistan is meanwhile open again.
International commercial air traffic has resumed in Kabul.
A plane from the Pakistani airline PIA landed with around ten passengers in the Afghan capital, an AFP journalist on board reported on Monday.
The plane took off from Islamabad.
A spokesman for PIA said at the weekend that the airline was planning to resume regular air traffic.
How often there should be flights between the two capitals, the spokesman has not yet been able to say.
A bus labeled "Welcome to Afghanistan" was waiting to take passengers from the plane to the terminal.
“This is a great moment.
We're very excited, ”said an airport employee in Kabul after landing.
“It's a hopeful day.
Maybe other airlines will see this and decide to come back. "
Around a hundred passengers were waiting for the plane to fly back to Islamabad.
According to information provided by the ground staff at the airport, the majority of them were members of staff from international organizations such as the World Bank.
asc / AFP / Reuters / dpa