MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have spoken out on the devastating Afghanistan crisis and described the world as “exceptionally fragile”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed they have been left “speechless” at the Taliban takeover.
In a lengthy joint statement posted on their Archewell site, the pair urged the world to prove “our humanity”.
And they expressed their heartache at other global issues – including the earthquake in Haiti and new Covid variants.
The couple wrote: “As we all feel the many layers of pain due to the situation in Afghanistan, we are left speechless.
“As we all watch the growing humanitarian disaster in Haiti, and the threat of it worsening after last weekend’s earthquake, we are left heartbroken.
“And as we all witness the continuing global health crisis, exacerbated by new variants and constant misinformation, we are left scared.
“When any person or community suffers, a piece of each of us does so with them, whether we realize it or not. And though we are not meant to live in a state of suffering, we, as a people, are being conditioned to accept it.
“It’s easy to find ourselves feeling powerless, but we can put our values into action – together.”
The couple asked for support for organisations doing “critical work”.
They also urged those in “positions of global influence” to “rapidly advance the humanitarian dialogues that are expected to take place this fall at multilateral gatherings” such as the UN and G20.
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Meghan and Harry added: “As an international community, it is the decision we make now – to alleviate suffering among those we know and those we may never meet – that will prove our humanity.”
The couple highlighted organisations such as Women for Afghan Women, Afghanaid and Mercy Corps – but didn’t elaborate on how they were supporting them.
The statement comes just hours after Harry called on military veterans to “support one another” amid the brutal takeover.
AFGHAN CRISIS
Harry, who spent 10 years in the Army and went on two tours of duty on the frontline in Afghanistan, referenced the Invictus Games.
But their response is likely to raise eyebrows as the pair have been such big supporters of under-fire president Joe Biden in the past.
He has been slammed for standing by his controversial decision to remove American troops out of Afghanistan – leading the way for the Taliban to seize power.
Mr Biden also blasted the Afghan army for “giving up” in a speech branded “one of the most shameful in US history” after days of silence on the crisis.
The president said: “The truth is, this did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated.
“So what’s happened?
“Afghanistan political leaders gave up and fled the country.”
ROYAL PALS
Both Harry and Meghan suggested Americans should vote for Mr Biden ahead of last year’s US election.
Although the Duke of Sussex wasn’t allowed to vote in the recent US elections, he did break royal protocol for the first time in openly talking about politics alongside Meghan, who did cast a vote.
The royal couple urged people to go out and vote, with Harry saying it is time to “reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity”.
But many saw the video as a thinly veiled attempt by the royals to get their fans to vote Donald Trump out of office.
Meghan also called the 2020 White House race the “most important of our lifetime”.
The Duke of Sussex is also a close friend of Mr Biden’s wife Jill.
