London, UK, March 30, 2022 — As the UK, Qatar and Germany convene a high level pledging summit tomorrow to raise urgently needed humanitarian funding for Afghanistan, the IRC calls on the Governments to lead bold pledges in humanitarian funding and concrete commitments to halt the economic collapse facing the country. Whilst the UK has made a crucial contribution of a further £286 million in lifesaving aid, Afghanistan is now the world’s largest-ever humanitarian appeal, requiring a staggering US$4.47 billion in humanitarian aid—quadruple the needs at the start of 2021 and more than is required for either Syria or Yemen.
Since the shift in political power in Afghanistan last August- when the international community ended all non-emergency funding and cut Afghanistan off from international financial systems- the speed of Afghanistan’s economic collapse has been unprecedented. Afghans that could support themselves and their families six months ago are now entirely dependent on aid. With each week that goes by, more Afghans are forced to resort to the unimaginable to survive: since August, the number of Afghans resorting to negative coping capacities has risen sixfold, such as selling young daughters into marriage, pulling children out of school to work, selling organs, skipping meals or taking on high levels of debt.
David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, said:
“This Conference is a crucial test for British leadership. The UK has the opportunity to move international partners forward on two tracks. First, ensuring the livelihoods of Afghan people in the immediate term. The doubling of aid is welcome, and will help save lives. Essential services like healthcare and education should be seen as indispensable. The World Bank’s recent approval of $1 billion for these and other programs to rebuild Afghans’ livelihoods should move quickly and be used to pay civil servants like healthcare workers and teachers, supporting the delivery of critical services needed by all Afghans.
And the second is to resuscitate the Afghan economy. Further economic distress will only mean greater displacement, greater insecurity and greater misery. The UK must be leading efforts with partners to outline a roadmap for international engagement to address the economic crisis, including the release of frozen Afghan assets to the central bank, support from financial institutions to help rebuild the capacity of the central bank to operate independently, adhere to international banking standards, and manage the Afghan economy. Until these measures are taken, Afghan civilians will continue to pay for the transgressions of others with their own lives and suffering.”
The IRC began work in Afghanistan in 1988, and now works with thousands of villages across ten provinces, with Afghans making up more than 99% of IRC staff in the country. As Afghanistan struggles to recover from ongoing conflict, economic crisis and natural disasters, the IRC works with local communities to identify, plan and manage development projects, provides safe learning spaces in rural areas, community based education to children, including girls, and cash assistance to uprooted families to buy food, clean water, sanitation and other basic necessities, and helps people start businesses, find jobs and earn an income.