WASHINGTON: As winter approaches, Afghanistan stands at the brink of a dire humanitarian crisis, with millions of its citizens facing the harsh realities of food scarcity, inadequate healthcare, and inadequate shelter.
A convergence of critical funding gaps has left the country’s most vulnerable populations in perilous conditions, prompting experts to issue alarming warnings about the impending catastrophe.
Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, the lives of millions of starving women and children are at stake in Afghanistan this winter. His words reflect the stark reality that out of Afghanistan’s approximate 38 million people, a staggering 15 million are in desperate need of food assistance.
The World Food Program has been striving to alleviate this crisis by providing aid, but its reach is currently limited to only 5 million people for the month of August. There are genuine concerns that this lifeline could be severed in the months to come due to inadequate funding.
The shortage of funding doesn’t just impact food assistance. Healthcare services are also under threat, as aid agencies play a crucial role in supplying essential medicines and resources to hospitals across the country. Tragically, over 260 clinics ceased operations in June, depriving approximately 2 million people of access to vital healthcare.
The United Nations has issued a stark warning: if the current funding gaps persist, around 3.7 million people will lose access to life-saving health assistance. To combat this crisis, the UN appealed for $3.26 billion in humanitarian funding for Afghanistan this year. However, as of August 8, donors have only contributed roughly $800 million, a mere fraction of the appeal.
The United States, the largest contributor in 2023 with a donation of $335.7 million, has fallen significantly short of the $1.2 billion contributed in the previous year. Other major donors such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada have also scaled back their contributions substantially, echoing a troubling trend of dwindling support.
This decline in funding can be attributed to a complex interplay of factors, including political considerations, donor fatigue, and concerns over the Taliban’s policies, particularly their restrictions on women’s rights and education. The Taliban’s perceived interference in aid operations and their alleged diversion of funds for personal gain have raised calls for greater transparency and even the reconsideration of aid to a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
The Taliban, however, deny any interference in humanitarian efforts, asserting that aid should be directed towards deserving and needy communities. This assertion is met with scepticism by some, given the political dynamics and ongoing tensions.
William Byrd, a senior researcher at the United States Institute of Peace, provides crucial context. He suggests that the decline in humanitarian aid doesn’t solely stem from political motives, but rather from a combination of aid fatigue after two years of intense efforts to address the crisis and a global trend of decreasing aid overall.
This crisis is not unique to Afghanistan. The United Nations has launched 43 humanitarian appeals this year, requesting a total of $55.2 billion to address emergencies worldwide. Yet, donors have only contributed around 25% of this amount as of August. The largest appeals, such as those for Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Ukraine, also struggle to secure adequate funding.
As winter looms and millions of Afghan lives hang in the balance, urgent action is needed. The international community must come together to bridge the funding gaps, ensuring that food, healthcare, and shelter reach those in dire need. The future of Afghanistan hinges on a swift and coordinated response to prevent an even greater humanitarian catastrophe from unfolding.
