A large group of Afghan civil society organizations inside the country and abroad have signed a petition in support of the United Nations' call for a humanitarian ceasefire, in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan.

In the petition, they urged US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as the European Union, NATO and P5 leaders to support this initiative by the UN.

In a statement, the organizations called on all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to ‍agree to a full and immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

They said the pandemic will not wait for intra-Afghan negotiations to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire.

The signatories also asked the Afghan parties to boost immediate preparedness and response operations for water, sanitation and hygiene activities, medical supplies and health infrastructure to contain the spread of the virus.

They have also asked parties in Afghanistan to take proactive steps to ensure that emergency measures do not compromise the space for human rights, women’s rights, refugee protection laws and norms, and the space for independent civil society to operate in safety.

“We are all in this together. A global response to battle this pandemic must include the citizens of the most vulnerable countries in the world. This is the only way to protect our collective public health,” the statement concluded.

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/afghan-civil-society-joins-un-call-ceasefire