There are currently 24.4 million people (about 55 percent of the total population) who are in need of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, which is up a whopping 30 percent from last year.
USA for UNHCR shared some facts on their blog recently that are hard to swallow. How can we, as a global community, allow this to happen? How can we allow families to be torn apart and children to suffer? Even though they’re halfway around the world and we may never meet any of them, Afghan citizens need our help, because the situation is only getting worse and they’re running out of options.
After 40 years of war, rising poverty, and economic decline, Afghans in 2021 faced even worse conflict when the Taliban took over the country in August, not to mention battling the worst drought in decades. The Afghans current crisis, however, is the hard winter they’re in, many without food or proper shelter.
Per USA for UNHCR, here are five startling facts about what’s happening in Afghanistan right now:
1. FACT: Afghanistan is one of the biggest displacement crises in the world.
Conflict forcibly displaced nearly 700,000 people across all provinces in 2021. The UN estimates that there are more than 9 million displaced people in the country.
“Afghanistan’s displacement crisis is one of the largest and most protracted in UNHCR’s seven-decade history,” says UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “We’re now seeing a third generation of Afghan children born in exile.”
Beyond Afghanistan’s borders, there are at least 6 million Afghans in neighboring countries, with the majority in Iran and Pakistan. Approximately 2.5 million are registered as refugees.
2. FACT: Half of the population of Afghanistan faces acute hunger.
Over half the population, 23 million people, are in acute food insecurity; 8.4 million people are facing emergency level food insecurity – the highest number in the world and the last step before famine. One million children are at risk from severe malnourishment.
“Sometimes we get vegetables, but mostly we are living on bread and tea,” says Mohammad, who recently returned to his home after six years of displacement. “All the children are hungry.”
Furthermore, rising temperatures and droughts have exacerbated the effects of 40 years of war, resulting in poor harvests and worsening food shortages.
3. FACT: Displaced Afghans are struggling through the harsh winter.
Though the summers are hot and dry, winters in Afghanistan are frigid with frequent winter storms. In the heart of winter, temperatures can plummet to the single digits. Current conditions have forced road closures in many provinces, as well as disrupted flights to and from the Kabul airport, including those carrying emergency assistance and supplies.
UNHCR’s winterization assistance is focused on helping families survive in these harsh conditions, often in makeshift temporary shelters. Critical needs for core assistance items during winter include blankets, solar lanterns, tent insulation kits and cash for heating and clothing.
4. FACT: The fundamental rights of women and girls are under attack.
While appealing to the international community to support the Afghan people last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was making an equally urgent appeal to Taliban leaders “to recognize and protect the fundamental human rights, and in particular the rights of women and girls,” and to build government institutions in which all Afghans feel represented.
“Across Afghanistan, women and girls are missing from offices and classrooms,” Guterres said. “No country can thrive while denying the rights of half of its population.”
5. FACT: The UN Refugee Agency will stay and deliver.
UNHCR’s emergency response in Afghanistan continues, including the scaling up of winter support and cash assistance to the most vulnerable displaced families. In 2021, UNHCR assisted 1.1 million displaced and vulnerable people and helped 3 million people with improved access to infrastructure and services.
A UN-wide $4.4 billion plan for responding to humanitarian needs in Afghanistan in 2022 was launched on January 11. If funded, the plan will scale up delivery of lifesaving food and agriculture support, health services, treatment for malnutrition, emergency shelter, access to water and sanitation, protection and emergency education.
Grandi said: “The international community must do everything it can to prevent a catastrophe in Afghanistan, which would not only compound suffering but would drive further displacement both within the country and throughout the region.”
If you’re like me, you’re probably reading this wondering what you can do to help. If you’re able to, please consider donating to USA for UNHCR to help those suffering in Afghanistan make it through the cold, bitter winter. You can click here to donate (any amount helps) and provide emergency shelter, lifesaving aid, food, medicine, and clean water to the most vulnerable people who are living through a conflict they had no hand in creating.
Thank you so much for your time.
(photo via USA for UNHCR)