In a recent statement released on August 7, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a prominent international humanitarian organization, expressed deep concern regarding the dwindling funding for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan. The country, which is grappling with immense challenges, sees nearly three-quarters of its population in dire need of assistance.
According to the IRC, almost 30 million Afghans are currently in dire need of humanitarian aid. Salma Ben Aissa, the IRC Afghanistan director, highlighted the dire situation by stating that a significant portion of the population lives in poverty, and the Taliban’s strict governance has deprived many, especially women and girls, of education and work opportunities.
The situation has been exacerbated by the economic turmoil that followed the Taliban’s rise to power on August 15, 2021. Afghanistan, known as one of the most aid-dependent nations globally, faced a loss of development assistance and financial support from Western donors as a result of the Taliban’s takeover. The Taliban’s human rights abuses led to international isolation and sanctions against their government.
The Afghan economy, already fragile, crumbled rapidly, pushing previously self-reliant Afghans to rely on humanitarian aid. Despite the challenges, humanitarian efforts managed to stave off famines during the past two winters, and increased aid played a pivotal role in reducing the number of Afghans at risk of famine from 6 million to 3 million.
However, the IRC now finds itself gravely concerned about the future of the humanitarian response in Afghanistan due to ongoing funding shortfalls. Aissa pointed out that only 23 percent of the proposed $4.6 billion funding for this year has been covered so far, in stark contrast to the 40 percent funded by the same time last year.
The IRC issued a heartfelt plea to donors to commit to supporting the humanitarian response in a flexible and long-term manner. Aissa emphasized that without this commitment, millions of vulnerable Afghans will continue to face hunger and an uncertain future.
As Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis deepens, the spotlight remains on the urgent need for international support to ensure that critical aid reaches those most in need.
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