International community vowed support for Afghan women; current status?
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is worsening, with the forced mass return of Afghans from neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan, intensifying the situation. The scale of return, particularly from Iran, is overwhelming aid organizations and local authorities, leaving nearly 15 million Afghans in need of emergency food assistance.
Current Situation
Almost 23 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian aid, including 1.3 million returning refugees from Iran and Pakistan. The crisis is particularly severe for women and children, exacerbated by economic collapse, widespread hunger, climate disasters, and severe rights restrictions imposed by the Taliban.
Women in remote areas have little to no access to healthcare, making Afghanistan one of the most dangerous places for childbirth. The lack of access to skilled care contributes to high maternal mortality rates. UN Women estimates that impediments to receiving healthcare will increase maternal mortality by 50% by 2026.
Women and girl returnees are at increased risk of poverty, early marriage, violence, and exploitation. The surge in returnees puts additional strain on already fragile communities.
Why Are Women and Children Particularly Affected?
The Taliban's policies restrict women's access to education beyond the sixth grade and bar them from universities, which limits their ability to contribute to the economy or access information. Restrictions on women's freedom of movement and employment limit their access to healthcare services, exacerbating health issues and maternal mortality.
The economic crisis and lack of access to education and employment opportunities make women and children more vulnerable to poverty and exploitation. The Taliban's restrictions on public speaking and participation in public life further isolate women, making them invisible in society and reducing their ability to access support services.
Urgent Action Needed
Urgent international funding is needed to provide psychosocial support and essential services to returning Afghan children. Nutrition experts warn that 2025 could see the highest surge in acute malnutrition ever recorded in Afghanistan, with pregnant women and children under five most at risk.
Widows with children and other households headed by women are receiving limited aid from the World Food Programme due to their vulnerable status. A hotline set up by the WFP in Afghanistan has seen a surge in calls from women threatening suicide due to lack of support.
Other donor governments, including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK, have also announced cuts to their global aid budgets, leading to a significant decline in assistance to the world's most vulnerable.
The Taliban's severe restrictions on Afghan women, including bans on attending universities, working in the public or private sector, traveling without a male guardian, and public activities like singing or reading aloud, further exacerbate the crisis. About 3.5 million children in Afghanistan are already suffering from acute malnutrition, and 90% of those under two are living in child food poverty.
As more than 800,000 Afghan children have returned in recent months, many without family, home, or community connections, the situation becomes increasingly dire. A devastating drought in Afghanistan, one of the worst in decades, has further weakened the country's agriculture-reliant economy. Despite better climate and economic conditions, women in Afghanistan are still at a disadvantage, including those who head households, elderly people, and people with disabilities due to the war. They cannot cope without food assistance.
One child returns to Afghanistan every 30 seconds, making them a vulnerable group heavily reliant on dwindling aid. The US, which was Afghanistan's largest humanitarian donor during its two-decade war with the Taliban, has cut off aid to Afghanistan, providing less than 40% of aid including food assistance and health services.
In conclusion, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is deepening, with women and children bearing the brunt of the suffering. Urgent international action is needed to provide essential services and support to Afghanistan's most vulnerable populations.
[1] UNICEF. (2023). Afghanistan: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens for Women and Children. [online] Available at: https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/64443_afghanistan_humanitarian_crisis_deepens_for_women_and_children.html
[2] OCHA. (2023). Afghanistan: Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023. [online] Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-humanitarian-needs-overview-2023
[3] Amnesty International. (2023). Afghanistan: Women's Rights Under Threat. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/01/afghanistan-womens-rights-under-threat/
[4] World Bank. (2023). Afghanistan: Overview. [online] Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/afghanistan/overview
[5] UN Women. (2023). Afghanistan: Humanitarian Crisis and Women's Rights. [online] Available at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2023/01/afghanistan-humanitarian-crisis-and-womens-rights
- The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is intensifying, with 1.3 million returning refugees from Iran and Pakistan adding to the 22 million people in need of aid.
- Women in remote regions of Afghanistan have limited to no access to healthcare, making it one of the most dangerous places for childbirth, and UN Women anticipates a 50% increase in maternal mortality by 2026.
- Women and girl returnees face higher risks of poverty, early marriage, violence, and exploitation, further straining already fragile communities in Afghanistan.
- The Taliban's policies restrict women's access to education and limit their ability to contribute to the economy or access information, exacerbating economic challenges and gender-based violence.
- Due to the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights, Afghanistan has the highest levels of maternal mortality and acute malnutrition among children, with 90% of those under two living in child food poverty.
- World Food Programme aid for vulnerable groups, including widows with children, is insufficient due to financial constraints and increased demand.
- A surge in child returns from Iran and Pakistan, over 800,000 since recent months, has left many without family, home, or community support, exacerbating an already critical situation in Afghanistan.
- Climate disasters, such as a devastating drought affecting agriculture-reliant economies in Afghanistan, have worsened the crisis, especially for women, elderly people, and people with disabilities who cannot cope without food assistance.
- The reduction of global aid budgets by several donor governments, including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US, has led to a significant decline in assistance to the world's most vulnerable, such as Afghan women and children.
- As the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan deepens, international action is crucial to provide essential services, support, and circles of protection that shield women and children from harm and deprivation.
