The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has warned that it is compelled to provide aid to fewer people in Afghanistan due to a significant reduction in U.S. financial support.
Kabul 24: This comes at a critical time when a surge in returning migrants has heightened the urgent need for humanitarian assistance. Jan Egeland, NRC’s Secretary-General, stated that the United States, which funded 45 percent of humanitarian activities in Afghanistan last year, has drastically cut its aid this year, creating a dire situation for aid organizations.
Egeland noted, “Our teams remain active in Afghanistan, committed to a society we have worked with for over two decades. However, losing our largest donor has forced us to make painful decisions about who and where we can assist.
We are not alone in this; many humanitarian organizations are scaling back operations at a time when more families are returning to Afghanistan, desperately needing support.” This reduction in aid exacerbates an already challenging environment marked by widespread poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity.
In Kabul, residents like Amrullah struggle to survive. Speaking to Tolo News, he shared, “I sit by the roadside daily, earning 50 to 100 Afghanis from temporary work. We urge the Islamic Emirate to create job opportunities.” Economic expert Ahmad Fardos Behazin warned that continued suspension of aid could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, emphasizing the need for renewed assistance to remote areas to prevent further suffering.Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy insists efforts are underway to stabilize the economy.
Spokesperson Abdulrahman Habib stated, “The Ministry is working to foster economic stability by supporting small and large-scale investments, promoting domestic production, and enhancing regional economic cooperation to create jobs.” However, the U.S.
House of Representatives has passed a bill to block the Islamic Emirate’s access to American aid. Representative Tim Burchett revealed that over $5 billion in cash has been sent to Afghanistan since the Emirate’s return to power and urged the Senate to swiftly approve the bill.This situation underscores the complexities of delivering humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.
The combination of reduced international funding and internal challenges like poverty and unemployment threatens millions. Urgent international coordination and sustainable solutions are critical to address Afghanistan’s escalating needs
