The situation is still deteriorating, according to Jean-Nicolas, who gave this interview to Sputnik during his short visit to Moscow. “It’s a steady increase of violence that takes place in cities, in urban areas, which is creating a lot of needs in areas of medical supplies, evacuations and protection of the civilian population,” said Jean-Nicolas.
It is ironic that just as the ICRC is increasing its budget by 20% to reach $100 million this year, the international press has more or less gone quiet on what is happening in Afghanistan. We certainly hear all about the problems migrants are causing in Europe, and Afghans are now the third largest group of migrants, but we hardly ever hear about the reasons these people are leaving Afghanistan in the first place.
As regards what is going to happen when western forces pull out completely, Jean-Nicolas was hesitant to make any predictions, but he did say that the western alliance has already made it clear that the pull out will be much longer than they previously announced, and that it is becoming more involved in supporting the Afghani army resist armed insurgencies. But, Jean-Nicolas said, he expects the next six months to be very violent.
In general, Jean-Nicolas expressed that because so many countries are involved in Afghanistan, there is a need for a constellation of countries to come together to solve the country’s problems; “I don’t think that the time for lasting peace has come yet, but I do have hope for that.”
