The United Nations Agencies on Monday opened a toll free call center named Awaaz Afghanistan in Kabul that was attended by UN officials, Minister of Refugees and Repatriation and State Minister for Natural Disaster Management. 

This is Afghanistan’s first inter-agency nationwide toll free call center which will be a single point of contact through which Afghans affected by conflict and natural disasters can get critical information about what assistance and support is available to them.

The toll free number is 410 and anyone with access to a phone in Afghanistan can call the number – which will be manned by eight multi-lingual operators, four of whom are women.

UN officials in Kabul said the call center has been established to not only help people receive critical and life-saving information but also for them to receive the support they need.

“Recognizing the need to enhance transparency and two-way communication in Afghanistan, the World Food Programme initiated the call centre, identifying UNOPS as the implementing partner. UNOPS secured additional funding from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,” Awaaz Afghanistan Team said in a statement.

According to UN officials, anyone affected by the conflict, domestic violence or natural disasters or any other means of challenges can freely contact the center by dialing 410.

The UN said the team will be able to deal with about 400 calls a day.

Toby Lanzer, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan said at the opening ceremony of the call center in Kabul the employees at the center will register complaints and problems. The UN will then take steps to either address the problems or refer them to relevant government departments.

Lanzer also said the UN will follow up on registered complaints to make sure the problems are addressed.

“Today’s launch marks a milestone: UN agencies are here to listen to the people of Afghanistan, who can now reach us day or night with feedback or questions about our response to natural disasters or conflict. And, together, agencies will work to get the best answers and the best response to people, on time,” said Lanzer.

The center will work with different government departments and international aid agencies to accelerate the deployment of critical aid to people suffering from various types of problems.

 “This center should accurately introduce support resources to the people in need. It should make it easy for people to find support resources and they should not waste people’s time by notreferring them,” Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi, Minister of Refugees and Repatriation said.

“Government and the international agencies should know about the situation of the people and what they need and what they want,” Najib Aqa Fahim, State Minister for Natural Disasters Management said.

Officials from the call center said this is the second free call center that has been opened by the UN in the world. The first one was opened in Iraq a number of years ago.