UN official hails reform process in Afghanistan

By Bayram Altug

GENEVA

A top UN official in Afghanistan on Tuesday hailed the reform process in the war-ravaged country.

Speaking at the Afghanistan Conference in the UN's Geneva Office, Toby Lanzer, the deputy special representative for the UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said: "On the reform agenda, there has been quicker and better progress than had been envisaged."

International Monetary Fund (IMF) benchmarks “have not only been met, been exceeded”, he said.

He highlighted the food and nutrition scarcity in the region, saying 3.6 million people in Afghanistan are on the brink of famine.

He said providing urgent care to these people was the biggest humanitarian challenge.

Representatives from more than 70 countries will participate in the two-day conference.