Stephane Dujarric, UN spokesperson, welcomed the restoration of internet services in Afghanistan on Wednesday.
He stated that the Taliban’s internet shutdown had negatively impacted Afghanistan’s economic stability and people’s right to access information and express their demands.
Dujarric emphasized that the Taliban provided no explanation for either cutting off or restoring internet services.
The UN spokesperson added that the internet blackout had worsened the dire situation of Afghan women and girls while restricting people’s rights to freedom of expression and information access.
He also noted that this action disrupted UN activities in Afghanistan, including relief efforts in earthquake-affected areas in the country’s east, where the UN refugee agency lost contact with its aid workers.
The internet shutdown paralyzed all exchange offices, customs, airlines, and internet-related businesses.
This marked the first complete internet service disruption since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
The blackout had isolated Afghanistan from the outside world and threatened to exacerbate one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
