BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – Afghanistan faces a collapse of its social and economic systems which could lead to a humanitarian disaster, according to the European Union’s chief foreign policy officer.

Josep Borrell, a blogger wrote that the Taliban would need to agree to conditions which would allow for more international aid in order avoid the worst case scenario.

Borrell said that Afghanistan was in serious humanitarian distress and that a severe socio-economic crisis is imminent. This would pose a threat to international security, as well as the region.

As a result of the theft of foreign income and the freezing of Afghan assets in foreign reserves, food prices have increased by more than 50% in this country since August when the Taliban came to power.

Borrell said that the Afghan bank system is nearly paralysed. People are not able to withdraw funds, and the country’s system of health, heavily dependent on foreign assistance, is near collapse.

“If this situation continues, and with winter coming, it risks becoming a humanitarian catastrophe,” wrote he, noting that mass migration could be triggered into neighboring countries.

The EU, which includes 27 member countries, has increased aid to Afghanistan after the Taliban came to power. But it also stopped its assistance for development – something that was done by other countries as well as the World Bank.

Borrell explained that the EU’s response would be dependent on how the Afghan government behaves. Resuming relations will require respect for human rights.

He stated, “This demands that the Taliban undertake the necessary steps to enable the international community assist the Afghan people”, and added that women staff members of international agencies should be capable to perform their duties.

There are many reports about human rights violations and exclusions of girls at schools, which have lowered optimism that the Taliban has made any significant changes since its first run of Afghanistan in 1996-2001.

Borrell met Qatari officials at Doha, Qatar’s capital. The Taliban also have representatives there.

He claimed that Qatar’s contacts to the Taliban were intended to moderate their behavior, and encouraged Doha to make use of its contacts to them in order to prevent the “worst case” for Afghanistan.