It’s been almost a year since the world witnessed dramatic scenes of Afghans desperately trying to leave alongside the US troop withdrawal. Since the subsequent Taliban takeover of the country the people have endured an almost total economic collapse. This economic crisis has exacerbated, if not directly caused, a deadly humanitarian crisis that is worsening.
The combination of a banking collapse, widespread unemployment – including the untenable restrictions placed on women, and skyrocketing inflation come on top of the pandemic, a drought, and decades of war. There is reportedly ample food in marketplaces, yet malnutrition has spiked across the country. Put bluntly, the people of Afghanistan are starving to death and going to extreme measures to survive. Some are even ensuring food by selling their daughters into child marriage.
As the head of the IRC testified to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee – without a change in approach, this starvation crisis will kill more Afghans than the past 20 years of war. While minor gains have been made in recent months, the situation remains dire with 24.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance across Afghanistan.
The Crisis by the Numbers
According to monthly updates from the World Food Programme:
- For ten months over 90 percent of families have faced insufficient food consumption and food insecurity. The number is nearly 100 percent for female-headed-households due to the Taliban’s restrictions for women.
- Households spend 87% of their income on food, with female-headed-households spending even more.
- Food prices continually rise with the cost of WFP’s food basket up 17% since December.
- Half of households experienced income decline in May.
- Food coping strategies like limiting portion size, skipping meals, and borrowing food or money are currently used by 56% of households, and 87% of female-headed-households.
- Consumption of vital nutrition like vegetables, beans, and lentils have dropped to fewer than 2 days per week. Dairy, proteins, and fruits are not even eaten once a week.
What Can Be Done
The situation in Afghanistan is complex, and the international community is balancing helping the Afghan people while not supporting the Taliban government. Advocate for policy solutions that help Afghans and NGOs access food and currency in country, and that assist people fleeing.
Many also worry that the crisis in Ukraine will divert resources and attention. Insist that we not pit people against people in a competition of suffering. We can address multiple crises at once.