The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned in its report on the first half of 2023 about the worsening living conditions of the people of Afghanistan.
According to the committee’s report, 55% of the Afghan population requires humanitarian aid due to the impact of global economic sanctions resulting from Taliban policies.
The ICRC has provided a broad range of services, including healthcare, emergency response, physical rehabilitation for disabilities, and critical infrastructure repair such as water supply systems. During the first half of the year, effective responses were delivered. Additionally, efforts to rebuild livelihoods and provide healthcare to detainees were ongoing. The ICRC worked with various parties to protect vulnerable individuals and reduce their exposure to risk.
ICRC has said that during the first half of 2023, 581,548 patients, mainly women and children, receiving primary healthcare at 47 health facilities supported by the Afghan Red Crescent Society.
It added that ICRC has supported 33 hospitals with 7,057 beds, serving 26 million people through salaries for 10,900 health workers and facility running costs.
After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, challenges such as lack of employment and economic weakness have led to significant difficulties for the people. Abdul Shakoor and his family, who were previously able to earn a living, now struggle due to the lack of opportunities for work.
This problem is not unique to Abdul Shakoor. The United Nations indicates that the shadow of poverty and scarcity has affected over 29 million people in Afghanistan. The humanitarian crisis has escalated following the Taliban’s return to power. The International Organization for Migration’s recent six-month report highlighted that 70% of Afghanistan citizens live in poverty and unemployment.
Earlier, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed that nearly 29 million prople required assistance in 2023 in Afghanistan, necessitating $4.6 billion. However, the United Nations now faces a shortage of funds while providing aid to the needy population.
