UN chief fears winter virus spike in Afghanistan

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said he fears a winter spike in coronavirus cases could add further strain on the poor and insurrection-wracked nation of Afghanistan. Guterres spoke during a largely virtual pledging conference, the latest effort to drum up aid and support for a country where Taliban fighters are making inroads against the government.

The gathering in Geneva, co-hosted by Finland, was expected to draw diplomats, civil society advocates and international organizations from over 70 countries in the first such event in four years. "As winter approaches, I'm concerned that another spike in COVID-19 cases will further strain Afghanistan's already fragile health system and the economy, causing further suffering", Guterres said.

"I'm also deeply concerned about continued high levels of violence, particularly in recent heinous attacks on civilians, including students", he said. The pledging conference, overshadowed in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, seeks to lay out objectives for the next four years for Afghanistan is expected to generate billions for the poor and insurrection-wracked nation.