As we speak, the Taliban have taken over Afghanistan after U.S. troops began withdrawing from the country, per the Biden Administration’s orders, after two decades of being stationed there. Now, the country is in crisis as the Taliban, who previously held power in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, overtook the capital city of Kabul on Sunday.
The biggest uncertainty at this time, it seems, is what the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan means for women and girls. Says Josie Fischels for NPR, “For women in Afghanistan, the Taliban takeover of the country puts their rights at stake, as well as their lives. When the Taliban last held power between 1996 and 2001, women were denied education and employment opportunities. Girls couldn't attend school and women could only be seen in public with a male escort and their bodies fully covered. Punishment for disobeying these strict rules was severe, ranging from beating to execution.”
Fischels goes on to explain how women’s rights have increased in Afghanistan since 2001: they’ve been able to attend school and the mortality rates of children have decreased. Now, though, all of the progress made over the last 20 years is in jeopardy.
“80% of the nearly 250,000 people in Afghanistan who have been forced to flee their homes since the end of May have been women and children, according to Shabia Mantoo, a spokesperson for the U.N. refugee agency,” explains Fischels. “A report released last month from the U.N. also showed that the number of women and children killed and injured increased in May and June, around the same time U.S. and other international troops moved foreword with withdrawing their remaining troops from Afghanistan.”
Another urgent matter is the current refugee situation in Afghanistan, which is sadly only going to get worse now. According to USA for UNHCR, there are around 2.5 million registered refugees from Afghanistan. “They make up the largest protracted refugee population in Asia, and the second largest refugee population in the world.”
As I was writing this post, I received an email from our contact at USA for UNHCR who provided even more startling and important information about what’s going on. She shared the following:
The situation in Afghanistan has been worsening at a rapid pace over the last few days.
Violence and insecurity have forced more 550,000 Afghan people to flee their homes this year, and a recent increase in conflict is resulting in growing displacement. As the fighting spreads, thousands more families are fleeing for their lives each day.
Many highly vulnerable families flee with only the clothes on their back and are now without shelter, without drinkable water, without food, without medical care or protection. UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch has described the situation as one of “Utter devastation which is unfolding in front of our eyes.”
UNHCR has been on the ground from the first moment the crisis began. With nearly 200 team members in Afghanistan, and through a global network of suppliers, specialist agencies and partners, UNHCR is working to provide urgently needed services to displaced Afghan families, including:
Emergency shelter
Hygiene and sanitation kits
Core relief items like blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, buckets and jerry cans
Personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Emergency cash support
What can we do? How can we help? Below, a list of ways we can all pitch in and do what we can for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan who are in need:
Help USA for UNHCR raise money for displaced Afghan families by clicking here.
Share information about the crisis with your friends and family by clicking here.
Women for Women International is collecting donations to help women find safe places to meet and ways to stay connected. Click here to help.
Afghanaid is a London-based group providing emergency aid to Afghanistan. Click here to see how you can help.
Save the Children helps families who have been displaced, and estimates over 800,000 children have been displaced in the last two months. Click here to learn more.
The International Rescue Committee “works with thousands of Afghan villages across nine provinces, raising money to deliver aid and resources to Afghan families.” Click here to learn more.
If you are able to help out in any way, even just a little, it could go such a long way. Thanks for reading, friends, and for doing what you can to help those in need.
(photo by Edris Lutfi via USA for UNHCR)
