The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said Monday that since the Taliban swept to power in the country two years ago, humanitarian needs have “skyrocketed” across Afghanistan.
The organization pointed out that almost 30 million people are in dire need of assistance in the country as aid funding shortfalls jeopardize the humanitarian response.
In a statement released on Monday, the IRC warned that cuts to humanitarian aid for Afghanistan have contributed towards a 60 percent increase in the number of people in need alongside the economic crisis, climate change, and reduced access to basic services.
The organization added that it has received only 23 percent of the required funds for this year’s humanitarian response plan, compared to 40 percent this time last year.
IRC noted that this underfunding has contributed to the response reaching two million fewer people between January and April compared to the same period last year.
“Despite major obstacles, the humanitarian response has successfully averted famine for the past two winters in a row thanks to donor commitment to sustaining support for Afghan civilians,” the statement said.
“The significant scale-up of the humanitarian response has brought the number of people on the brink of famine down by nearly 3 million this year alone – a remarkable feat that helped young children, who are most vulnerable during a food crisis,” the statement added.
“Since August 15th 2021, Afghanistan has continued to suffer from a rapid economic collapse. Ordinary Afghans have paid the price; people who previously had jobs and were self-sufficient are now reliant on humanitarian aid and many families can no longer afford to feed themselves,” said Salma Ben Aissa, IRC Afghanistan Director.
“Two years later the economy remains cut off from international systems and 28.8 million people require humanitarian assistance, while nearly the entire population lives in poverty. Almost 80% of those in need are women and girls,” she added.
Ben Aissa has called on the international community to step in to expand and support the delivery of humanitarian aid that has saved countless lives.
She also said the IRC is growing “deeply fearful” for the future of the humanitarian response in Afghanistan in the face of continued funding shortfalls, which put millions of lives at risk.
“Without urgent funding, food assistance could shrink to nothing by October this year. Additionally, funding cuts this year have led to the shutting down of basic health services, including in the form of mobile health teams resulting in hundreds of thousands of Afghans no longer being able to receive health and nutrition support – disproportionately affecting women and girls,” Ben Aissa added.
“This is a critical moment for Afghanistan; donors should commit to supporting the humanitarian response in a long-term and flexible manner to ensure assistance continues to reach those that need it most, and that Afghans are able to stand on their own two feet. Without this commitment, millions will continue to face hunger and an uncertain future.”
