Find all the latest articles and watch Portugal-related TV shows, reports and podcasts at bps.ptThe Taliban took control of the Afghan capital, Kabul, in August last year after the withdrawal of US forces from the country after nearly two decades of war.Paula Bronstein.|Getty Images News |Getty ImagesHumanitarian aid to Afghanistan is not enough to sustain its economy and more investment is needed to support the country's development, according to the United Nations.“You cannot use humanitarian aid to fix what was a completely collapsed economy,” said Kani Weinaraja, UNDP Assistant Secretary General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.o The Taliban took control of the Afghan capital, Kabul, in August of last year, following the withdrawal of US forces from the country after nearly two decades of war.Winaraja said the "major humanitarian operation" that took place in the second half of last year after the Taliban toppled the Afghan government was "absolutely necessary to save lives".But she said it was wrong to suspend investments to rebuild and develop the country.Wignaraja added that the lack of investment from the private sector and development agencies is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country and affecting the economy.She said the investments are needed to revive the Afghan economy and its local market, as small and micro-enterprises have been creating jobs for men and women in the country for decades.“A large part of the efforts of the United Nations and the United Nations Development Program is [to] Stimulate and motivate the local business sector because Afghans will feed Afghans."They will produce their own food," she told CNBC.“Squawk Box Asia” Tuesday.Others, like the Red Cross, have also pointed out that humanitarian action alone is not enough to help lift Afghanistan out of its economic plight.“Humanitarian organizations alone cannot replace public institutions in a country of 40 million people,” Robert Mardini, director general of the International Committee of the Red Cross, told Reuters on Monday.Therefore, we urge development countries and agencies to return to Afghanistan to support Afghans who continue to bear the brunt of the economic turmoil.Winaraja said state and development agencies remain reluctant to provide money to Afghanistan unless the Taliban lives up to their "part of the deal" - allowing girls to complete high school, creating jobs for women in the workplace and becoming a more inclusive government.She said Afghanistan is "the only country in the world" where girls cannot complete high school.She added that the “dignity and rights of women” were taken away from them when their right to work was denied, costing the Afghan economy billions of dollars.More than 6,000 Americans were killed and more than 100,000 Afghans were killed During the 20-year conflict, the United States spent more than $2 trillion in Afghanistan.“Twitter practitioner.Analyst.Remorseless TV Pathfinder.Bacon specialist.Internet fanatic.”Her email address will not be published.Mandatory fields marked with *Save my name, email and website in this browser for the next time I comment.