After six months of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which started to emerge in August last year, Afghans continue to suffer from the cold winters, shortages of shelters, food, basic commodities, and medicines. As the humanitarian crisis has started to affect Afghans, voices from within the country, region, and internationally has also begun to plea the international community to step in and help. However, the international community has done little on the ground to ease the sufferings of Afghans compared to their actual needs.
The slow-paced humanitarian assistance is mostly because of the international community’s demands from the Taliban-run interim government in Afghanistan. They have linked humanitarian assistance with certain actions to be taken by the Taliban, pertaining to human rights, women’s education, inclusive government, and denial of space to terrorists. Although these demands are genuine and are in the interest of the Afghan masses, the Taliban can not meet these demands over- night as it is a time-taking process. Instead of wasting time in talks and meetings, the work on humanitarian assistance should accelerate as the crisis is worsening.
The international community is using humanitarian assistance to leverage its demands. It may continue to use the leverage but not at the cost of Afghans’ suffering. It should demonstrate flexibility and build up the Afghan government’s capability to deliver on its demands. Both women’s rights and humanitarian assistance are essential needs of Afghans. Denial of one under the pretext of the other will only add to the miseries of the masses.
The Severity of the Humanitarian Crisis
Prior to the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan was already struggling with drought, a pandemic, the effects of years of conflict, and economic reliance on international funds.
The gloomy picture of the humanitarian crisis, as reflected by the UN warnings, suggests that the international community’s efforts are inadequate and have not stopped the growing miseries of Afghans.
Some 24 million people are currently experiencing acute food insecurity, while 8.7 million people are at risk of starvation. More than half of the population will be facing famine this winter, and 97 per cent of the population could fall below the poverty line this year. The severity of the crisis demands the continued flow of funds to stabilize the Afghan economy and make it self-efficient. Although, it is a huge failure for the US that it could not make the Afghan economy sustainable after two decades of injecting money into the country. The hasty US withdrawal without seeking a solution to the intra-Afghan political process and its later policies of freezing Afghan government reserves and sanctioning the country have aggravated the crisis of an already fragile economy.
The Crisis Calls Urgent Attention
The UN and partners have launched more than $5 billion in funding appeals for Afghanistan for basic services. There are 22 million Afghans in need of assistance inside the country and 5.7 million Afghans who have taken refuge in other countries. The UN has warned of more funds if the international community fails to take insufficient action. It has also warned that without more concerted effort, “virtually every man, woman, and child in Afghanistan could face acute poverty.” It has also asked to save the functions of Afghanistan’s Central Bank and release its foreign currency reserves to avoid economic collapse. The World Food Program (WFP) needs urgent funding of USD 2.6 billion for starving Afghans amidst the freezing winters.
The severity of the situation does not only need the emergency flow of goods and food, but serious steps should be taken to revive the economy of Afghanistan, including the banking sector. For this, the US can soften its sanctions that are hurting common Afghans the most. However, the gloomy picture of the humanitarian crisis, as reflected by the UN warnings, suggests that the international community’s efforts are inadequate and have not stopped the growing miseries of Afghans.
The Taliban Needs to Deliver as Well
The Taliban’s willingness to address issues pertaining to Afghanistan and their engagement with the international community for addressing those concerns will increase their acceptance for the latter. They have pledged to address the international community’s concerns, albeit on their terms regarding women’s rights and education. The schools and universities across Afghanistan are gradually opening with girls and women returning to their classes and jobs.
Delivering tangible results on those concerns is equally beneficial for Afghans and its Taliban-run government. It will enhance public confidence in its government, weaken opposition against it both domestically and internationally, and add to its stability and survival in the long run. However, both the severity of the humanitarian crisis and their stern policies will only add to the challenges faced by the Afghan government.
However, the Afghan government needs to take substantive measures on the issue of terrorism. It has pledged international community that its soil will not be used as a launchpad for terrorism in other countries. Recently, terrorism-related incidents, especially attacks on security posts by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have increased. Pakistan has raised this issue with Afghan authorities to crack down on BLA and TTP’s presence and support inside Afghanistan multiple times. However, it still awaits tangible results on the ground.
It is also crucial to stabilize the Afghan government to establish its writ and act against foreign terrorists operating from inside Afghanistan. Failure to do so can create an enabling environment for terrorist outfits.
Economic stability in Afghanistan can address the majority of the international community’s concerns, from terrorism, refugee crisis, education to human rights. A concentrated effort by the international community can be pivotal to acheive it.
