Afghanistan Peace Campaign
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) announced on Monday, February 10, that it would suspend its humanitarian activities in nearly 20 countries, including Afghanistan, following the suspension of foreign aid from the United States.
The organization, which received approximately 20% (150 million dollars) of its 2024 budget from the U.S., stated that it had no choice but to withdraw its staff from Afghanistan and other countries.
In a statement, the NRC said: “In our 79-year history, we have never experienced such an immediate cut in funding from any donor countries, intergovernmental organizations, or private aid agencies.”
The NRC’s statement also highlighted, “Currently, we have millions of dollars in delayed requests with the U.S. government. Without an immediate solution, by the end of February, we will be forced to halt all life-saving programs funded by the United States.”
Last month, following the NRC President’s visit to Afghanistan, the organization noted the significant reduction in global aid to address the humanitarian crisis in the country. They pointed out that Afghan people, under Taliban rule for over three years, are experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in the country’s history.
In the early days of his presidency, Donald Trump issued an order halting foreign development aid for 90 days. The decision was made to review the effectiveness of aid programs and their alignment with his administration’s foreign policy.
Although U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that some critical projects would be exempt from the suspension, the NRC mentioned that it has not yet benefited from any such exceptions.
Following this decision, the Norwegian People’s Aid Office also suspended its demining activities in Afghanistan and 11 other countries.
The ongoing suspension of aid puts millions of vulnerable people in jeopardy. It is crucial that international partners find a way to restore humanitarian support to regions facing severe crises, especially Afghanistan, where the needs are dire.
The situation in Afghanistan, exacerbated by the lack of foreign assistance, calls for urgent action to ensure that vital humanitarian services continue. The international community must address these challenges to prevent further suffering and instability in the region.