KABUL— Ireland has pledged €4 million in humanitarian aid to support crisis response efforts in Afghanistan, with a focus on women, girls, and vulnerable communities, Irish officials announced on Saturday.
The funding, released to mark International Women’s Day, will be channeled through the UN OCHA Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund and UNHCR’s Afghanistan Refugee Situation Regional Response, the Irish government said in a statement.
Ireland Urges Taliban to End Restrictions on Women
Simon Harris, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, said the latest contribution brings Ireland’s total humanitarian support for Afghanistan to over €20 million since 2020.
“Ireland remains deeply concerned about Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian and protection crises, particularly the disproportionate impact of Taliban-imposed restrictions on women and girls,” Harris said.
He called on the Taliban to reverse their exclusionary policies, adding that Ireland resolutely condemns the group’s actions.
“We will continue to advocate for the full, equal, and safe participation of women and girls in all spheres of life and work with international partners to keep global attention on their plight,” he said.
Despite improved security, Afghanistan remains one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, with 22.9 million people in urgent need of assistance, the statement said.
The country’s ability to recover from more than 40 years of conflict is further hindered by natural disasters, climate shocks, and an economic collapse, the Irish government added.
Neale Richmond, Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, said that these overlapping crises have worsened food insecurity, limited education and job opportunities, and pushed more Afghans to seek refuge abroad.
“Ireland is proud to partner with UNHCR to support Afghan refugees, including women and girls seeking education opportunities in neighboring states,” Richmond said.
