How the West’s dealt with Ukraine compared to Afghanistan

Ukraine has marked one month since Russian forces entered its territory, as the world remembers images of Afghanistan when the Taliban took over

As the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine unfolds, Afghanistan continues to deal with major challenges.

Heather Barr is from Human Rights Watch, she says there is a very clear difference when it comes to how the world has responded to Afghanistan and Ukraine.

“It’s impossible not to notice the differences in how many countries, particularly in Europe are responding to fleeing Ukrainians versus feeling Afghans.”

HEATHER BARR, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the war in Ukraine will “have to move from the battlefield to the peace table”, in the coming weeks.

It comes as the Taliban bans young girls from attending school despite saying things would change.

Antonio Guterres says the decision was a profound disappointment. “The denial of education not only violates the equal rights of women and girls to education,” he says.

Afghan girls were told about the decision as they arrived back at school.

“The school’s assistant manager arrived and she was crying, she took and the microphone and said she can’t speak.”

“We were all surprised as to why she was crying instead of welcoming us. Then she told us to leave the school because the officials haven’t allowed girls to come to school,” an Afghan girl says.

When the Taliban was in control of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, they banned female education and some employment.

The Taliban since imposed gender segregation and new rules about the conduct and clothing for women at universities.

The UN refugee agency says there are nearly 6 million Afghans who have been forcibly displaced from their homes since conflict started.

“There’s been a lot of support from Afghans for Ukrainian people and what they’re going through,” Heather Barr says.

Meanwhile, over 3.5 million Ukrainians have fled their war-torn nation since conflict erupted.

“Nobody knows better than Afghans what Ukrainians are experiencing with their cities being destroyed, and being forced to flee their homes and country.”

HEATHER BARR, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

The UN has urged all parties to Respect its Charter, and work towards practical solutions.