The situation in Afghanistan will be discussed at the UN Security Council on Monday. This was confirmed by Twitter. Earlier, both Estonia and Norway had called for an extraordinary session. According to the agenda, the meeting will begin at 10:00 am (local time). Meanwhile, 66 countries in a joint statement called on the Taliban to allow civilians to leave, while the United States controls Kabul airport.
“The Secretary-General is closely following the rapidly growing situation in Afghanistan,” the statement said. The United Nations is committed to a peaceful solution to the conflict, to promote the human rights of all Afghans, especially women and girls, and to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and essential support to civilians in need. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on the Taliban and others in Afghanistan to save lives and exercise restraint.
A joint statement issued by the United States and 65 other countries said that Afghan nationals and foreigners were seeking to leave Afghanistan. They call on the Taliban to take the necessary responsibility in this regard.
“We call on all foreigners and Afghan nationals who wish to leave the country in the event of a deteriorating security situation (…) to respect and facilitate all parties to leave safely and properly,” the statement said. “Those in power or positions of power in Afghanistan have a responsibility to protect human lives and to restore security and civil order immediately,” it said.
Airport control
The U.S. military has taken control of air traffic control and security at Kabul airport on Monday. All U.S. embassy staff gathered there until they left. This was stated by the US State Department.
“We can ensure that the evacuation of all embassy staff is now safely completed,” spokesman Net Price said in a statement. “All embassy staff are at Hamid Karzai International Airport, the perimeter of which is guarded by the US military,” he added. US Ambassador to Afghanistan Rose Wilson is also at the airport. After helicopters flew back and forth throughout the day, the last act was to lower the U.S. flag at the embassy building overnight from Sunday to Monday.
Many Afghans have fled to the airport and the situation is chaotic. You can see people fighting on social media for planes to be evacuated. Since Sunday, only military planes have departed from Kabul, with the aim of resuming civil aviation.
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