Heavily dependent on humanitarian aid, Afghans are trapped in cycles of poverty, displacement, and despair. Without international support, Afghanistan risks becoming a forgotten crisis, according to a statement from 10 aid organizations released on Tuesday.

The aid organizations emphasized the urgent need for long-term development assistance to address the root causes of poverty in Afghanistan.

Signatories warned that diminishing humanitarian funding is severely impacting daily life, with reduced funding for medium and longer-term programs exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and increasing the humanitarian burden.

Action Against Hunger (ACF), CARE International, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and other agencies highlighted the dire situation, noting that 343 mobile health teams have shut down this year, which is 52% of the total.

The closure of these health teams has significantly affected the health and nutrition response, leaving populations unable to access essential lifesaving services.

The statement emphasized that the ongoing crisis cannot be managed with humanitarian aid alone and requires a comprehensive, sustained, and contextualized response from the international community.

Diplomatic engagement is crucial for creating an environment in Afghanistan that supports scaling up international aid efforts to include both development projects and emergency assistance.

This comes amid suppressive policies by the Taliban, which exacerbate the current crisis in the country and the group’s unwillingness to adhere to international law.

The current isolationist stance of many donor countries is not conducive to finding durable solutions to the challenges faced by Afghanistan, particularly for children, women, and marginalized groups.

Despite improvements in security, Afghanistan continues to face severe issues, including an economic crisis, the legacy of conflict, climate change impacts, and gender crises.

Humanitarian actors in Afghanistan argue that inaction from the international community is causing significant suffering for the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls.

To prevent deeper poverty and isolation, donors must support the return of development and long-term funding to build resilient communities. They also urged donor governments to reassure financial service providers to facilitate transactions in Afghanistan and ease current funding transfer impediments.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported this week that 23.7 million people in Afghanistan are reliant on humanitarian aid.

OCHA stated in a post on X on Tuesday that 48 percent of Afghanistan’s population lives below the poverty line, and 12.4 percent are experiencing food insecurity.

The UN office highlighted that economic poverty has significantly worsened in recent years.

According to OCHA, of the more than $30 billion budget requested by the organization for 2024, only 25 percent has been funded.

The agency has urged countries and aid organizations to maintain their support through humanitarian aid distribution programs in Afghanistan.

Amid these concerns, several other aid organizations have also warned that Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises.

Since the Taliban took power, Afghanistan has been marked by severe restrictions on human rights, particularly for women and girls. Over the past three years, there has been a notable suppression of girls’ education and severe violations of human rights, further aggravating the humanitarian situation.

The international community remains concerned about the Taliban’s policies and their impact on humanitarian efforts.

The restrictive measures and human rights abuses under the current regime have exacerbated the country’s dependence on aid and hindered progress toward long-term recovery and stability.

The United Nations has reported that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire, largely out of the media spotlight.

The organization stated that the Taliban’s restrictions have made Afghan women and girls increasingly vulnerable and in need of more support.

The UN’s Asia-Pacific division called for global attention to Afghan girls in a social media post on Thursday, August 15th.

Over the three years of Taliban rule, the group has issued numerous decrees targeting women. Taliban policies have barred girls from attending schools beyond the sixth grade and have excluded them from universities.

Meanwhile, women have also been denied basic rights such as sports, visiting parks, engaging in social and political activities, and traveling.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is compounded by the fact that 23.7 million people are living in poverty, with a significant portion being children and women. This immense need highlights the critical situation facing the most vulnerable populations, who are disproportionately affected by the ongoing crisis.

The severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban have exacerbated the hardships faced by these groups, making it increasingly difficult for them to access essential services and support. The international community’s response remains crucial to addressing the needs of these individuals and alleviating the broader humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Amnesty International, marking three years of the Taliban’s rule, has stated that the international community has left Afghanistan with little hope during this period.

On Thursday, August 15, the organization released a report based on interviews with 150 Afghan citizens, including women’s rights advocates, academics, youth, civil society members, and journalists.

The report highlights that many women have lost their jobs over the past three years under the Taliban’s rule and are now in a state of despair, with the international community failing to address their plight.

The report was compiled following interviews in 21 provinces of Afghanistan and 10 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and Pakistan.

The report also highlighted that the “Taliban continue to commit human rights violations against the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, with absolute impunity.” As Samira Hamidi notes, “The world is still wringing its hands as the Taliban continue violating human rights.”

Amnesty International emphasized that the international community has left Afghanistan with minimal hope. Previously, the organization had urged the Taliban administration in Afghanistan to uphold and protect human rights.

The situation for women in Afghanistan remains particularly dire, with widespread restrictions impacting their access to education, employment, and basic freedoms.

The ongoing international inaction and the Taliban’s repressive policies have left many women and girls in a state of profound vulnerability.

Addressing these issues requires a concerted global effort to both support Afghan women and pressure the Taliban to respect fundamental human rights. Without significant intervention, the suffering of Afghan women and the overall humanitarian crisis in the country are likely to persist and deepen.