1. Overview
Afghanistan is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. The country has witnessed political and economic instability since the Soviet invasion of 1979. Following the Soviet invasion, the civil war during 1992-96 brought violent clashes between the various factions of the Mujahideen groups. In 1996, the hardline Taliban seized control over most of the country and imposed their rule, supported by their own interpretation of the Shariah law, until they were ousted by a US-led coalition in response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Since 2001, Afghanistan has been in a state of conflict parallel to the reconstruction efforts in almost all walks of life. The past two decades have seen the intervention by the international community to work closely with the then elected Government and address the country’s struggle with widespread poverty, corruption, gender-based discrimination and political instability. In 2019, as with other countries, the fragile situation of Afghanistan was shaken by Covid-19 with limited healthcare facilities and resources to deal with the pandemic. After the US-Taliban deal or the Doha Agreement, on February 29, 2020, in Doha, to bring an end to the 2001-2021 war in Afghanistan, and the withdrawal of US and allied (NATO) forces, the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15, 2021. Since then, there have been reports of horrific human rights violations, killings and deprivation of women and girls of their right to work and education. The international community has been witnessing prevailing poverty, unemployment, lawlessness and the Taliban’s disregard for international agreements and United Nations principles.
Since assuming power in August 2021, the Taliban have prioritized their agenda, while disregarding the fundamental needs and rights of the Afghan people. Consequently, Afghanistan has been recognized as the world’s most severe and largest humanitarian crisis in 2023, with about 28.3 million people requiring humanitarian and protection assistance. According to projections, approximately 875,000 children are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2023 as well as 2.3 million children and 840,000 women from moderate acute malnutrition (OCHA, 2023b). Local sources suggest that the situation could be even worse than estimated, but the information is often censored, and international and local independent organizations have limited access to data in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s de facto regime still seeks political recognition.
This paper, therefore, highlights the insights from Afghanistan regarding the state of the ongoing food and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan. It highlights the challenges faced by the most vulnerable populations across the country, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and those affected by conflict and natural disasters. The lack of factual data is another issue being faced by the humanitarian organizations on site. Without accurate and reliable information on the extent and severity of the situation, it is extremely challenging for the international community to fully understand the scale of the problem and provide effective assistance. The factual data deficiency has hindered the response of international aid organizations to the crisis, resulting in inadequate aid and resources being allocated to address the urgent needs of the most vulnerable population in Afghanistan. Overall, this paper underscores the need for increased efforts to collect and analyze data on the food and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan.
2. The scale of food and humanitarian crises
After the Taliban took over the country in August 2021, the food security situation worsened; nearly half of the population, or 19.9 million people, are acutely food-insecure (IPC 3+) with limited access to food, putting them at risk of malnutrition and mortality (WFP, 2023). Furthermore, approximately 6.1 million people are on the verge of famine (IPC 4), which has been designated as the world’s largest and most severe humanitarian crisis. A recent humanitarian update from the United Nations (OCHA, 2023a) informs about Afghanistan being at the highest risk of famine in 25 years at times when the de facto Taliban are ruling the country since their takeover in August 2021. Since then, the food insecurity situation has reached alarming levels, with nine million people experiencing acute food insecurity between November 2022 and March 2023. Findings of the FSAC (2023) show that in April 2023, around 3.36 million people, accounting for 7.8% of the total population, require emergency assistance (IPC 4) and the number is projected to fall to 6.4% during May-October, 2023 (Figure 1).
Girls and women constitute 7.4 and 6.4 million, respectively, of the total 28.3 million individuals requiring life-saving aid (Figure 2)(OCHA, 2023b). These figures indicate a dire need for urgent action to address the food insecurity and malnutrition crisis to prevent further suffering and loss of lives.
According to the recent projection of the UN (2023), it is anticipated that four million children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding moms, will suffer from acute malnutrition this year (OCHA, 2023a). Among the population in need, around 54% are children, 23% are women and 8.3% are people with disabilities of one form or another (OCHA, 2023a). Besides, 17.6 million people are expected to be needy of humanitarian health assistance during 2023 (OCHA, 2023a). The food security and malnutrition situation is worse in rural areas compared to urban settings due to the inaccessibility of international aid organizations as well as inaccurate diagnosis of the most vulnerable people in these areas.
3. Key drivers and factors of food insecurity and malnutrition in Afghanistan
The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in August 2021 has worsened the pre-existing challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition impacting the country. The mix of factors contributing to food insecurity and malnutrition includes poverty, economic fragility, sanctions, inflation, climate change, and displacement due to conflicts and insecurity across the country. With the withdrawal of the United States and allied forces, international NGOs and diplomatic missions, and the imposition of sanctions on Afghanistan, poverty has become the fate of the entire population, as access to essential goods, including food, has become increasingly difficult due to the people’s lowered purchasing power.
The Taliban’s strict limitations on female employment and education, coupled with their inflexible stance on human rights, and disengagement of the educated youth, have further deteriorated the country’s economic situation and heightened the risk of malnutrition and food insecurity. The regime’s restrictions on customers’ access to their credits have compounded the crises of malnutrition and food insecurity in the country. Furthermore, droughts and floods driven by climate change have caused significant losses, particularly in regions that rely heavily on agriculture. The conflict and insecurity in Afghanistan have also displaced millions of people, disrupting their access to food and basic services, leading to the loss of assets and livelihoods (Figure 3). A recent study underscores Afghanistan among the world’s top 3 regions to be more susceptible to the impacts of extreme heatwaves in the future (Thompson et al., 2023) which will seriously damage the crops yield, especially if the heatwaves are supplemented by drought conditions (GFDRR, 2023).
4. Consequences of food and humanitarian crises
Afghanistan is currently grappling with multiple crises that are worsening problems such as malnutrition and food insecurity, and causing considerable short- and long-term impacts on human well-being, health, and development. The prevailing conflict and internal displacement have disturbed the overall food systems due to the Taliban’s de facto regime’s self-oriented decisions and isolation from the rest of the world, disregarding any international or human rights laws. This situation has caused food shortages and an increase in food prices. In addition, throughout the country, droughts and other relevant climate disasters have led to crop failure and fatalities in livestock, which is disastrous for the already vulnerable subsistence farmers. As a result, an estimated 28.3 million Afghans, particularly children, women, and the elderly, are facing hunger, health issues, and malnutrition (OCHA 2023b).
The de facto regime’s ban on women working and education is a serious violation of human rights which negatively affects their access to adequate food and health. Families who rely on their available capital are likely to deplete their financial reserves, restricting their options. This may exacerbate food insecurity and malnutrition, perhaps leading to elevated mortality rates among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and persons with special needs (Figure 3).
Anecdotal evidence from Afghanistan indicates that escalating levels of food insecurity and malnutrition have contributed significantly to heightened social unrest among the common population, conflicts and violence (Figure 3). These issues are often underreported and discouraged to be publicized by the ruling de facto regime. The adverse impacts of food insecurity on employment rates, economic opportunities, and the marginalization of educated youth have further amplified the risk of criminal tendencies in the country. On the one hand, these skilled workers are being compelled to emigrate due to unfavorable conditions back home; alternatively, they may be forced to comply with the policies of the ruling de facto regime; the latter can lead to the criminalization of their behavior in the society which can significantly impact their mental health.
5. Review of actions taken to address food and humanitarian crises
After the takeover of Afghanistan, amid the fear of collapse, UN donor agencies pledged assistance of $1 billion for Afghanistan (The Washington Post, 2021) which was supposed to be given to counter the humanitarian crises. Since then, the WFP has offered short-term aid to 23 million people in Afghanistan throughout 2022, including assistance to 12 million women and children, amid the historic levels of food shortages and malnutrition under the de facto Taliban regime. This aid was given in the form of 1.14 million metric tons of emergency food and commodities as well as almost USD 327 million in cash-based assistance. Due to the earthquake in 2022 which impacted much of southeastern Afghanistan, more than 1000 human lives were lost, including hundreds of homes and shelters; with assistance from other partners, around 3,691 metric tons of food items were distributed among 101,000 people in the most affected six districts of Khost and Paktika provinces (WFP, 2023a). Data from the WFP (2023a) shows that out of the total beneficiaries in 2022, 51% were female and 49% were male, among the most needy population in Afghanistan. Similarly, in both males and females, the maximum beneficiaries were in the age group of 18-59 years, followed by children, i.e., 5-11 years (Figure 4).
6. Challenges to the effectiveness of the humanitarian aid delivery
Despite attempts to reach out to the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan, the effectiveness of aid distribution has been questioned due to various factors which are given below:
- Firstly, the provision of aid temporarily often proved to be insufficient in addressing the long-term well-being of the population. Additionally, aid may not adequately fulfill the requirements of an entire household under their tough financial conditions, unemployment and unhealthy conditions.
- There have been reports of nepotism in the selection of vulnerable households by local and De Facto Authorities both at the capital and provincial levels, resulting in aid not reaching the most deserving beneficiaries. The uncooperative behavior of De Facto Authorities with implementing and donor agencies also poses a challenge to aid distribution efforts.
- There are several examples of no coordination within and among factions of De Facto Authorities regarding the distribution of foodstuff and selection of beneficiaries, leading to delays and potential discrimination in the provision of aid.
- Interventions by De Facto Authorities in the working procedures of implementing agencies have hindered aid distribution efforts. In most cases, individuals associated with De Facto Authorities have been forcefully added to the list of beneficiaries instead of vulnerable households, further highlighting the challenges in aid distribution efforts in Afghanistan.
- On-the-ground observations also indicate that some beneficiaries have been subjected to paying “fees” to De Facto Authorities or assisting them with their targeted missions in order to receive humanitarian assistance.
Overall, these factors demonstrate the need for a more coordinated and effective approach to aid distribution in Afghanistan to ensure that aid reaches those who need it the most and can make a long-term impact on their well-being.
7. Strategies for the enhancement of the effectiveness of aid delivery
In order to ensure the effectiveness of aid distribution, it is critical to identify the most vulnerable populations, which is often a complex process, especially in conflict regions such as Afghanistan. However, besides conducting a comprehensive need assessment for the identification of the most vulnerable population in a designated community, it has been usually effective to engage with local communities, village leaders, community development council (CDC) chiefs and village Shuras which are made of the community members themselves. Furthermore, targeting criteria could be used to identify the most vulnerable people such as their income level, gender, age and disabilities which could help prioritize assistance to those meeting these criteria.
In addition to the identification of vulnerable populations, several key strategies could be helpful in the improvement of the effectiveness of aid distribution in Afghanistan. Most of the strategies given below have already been tested in Afghanistan and have yielded positive results:
- Focusing on basic needs – prioritize addressing basic needs such as food, healthcare, education and clean water. By addressing these needs, aid can help build the foundation for a stable and prosperous society
- Long-term livelihood projects need to be designed and implemented to help build sustainable solutions to alleviate the current poverty and food insecurity challenges.
- Building infrastructure – Investing in infrastructure such as bridges, roads, and power plants can create jobs and stimulate economic growth. It can also improve access to basic services and help connect isolated communities.
- Encouraging private sector development – Aid should encourage the growth of private sector businesses and entrepreneurship. In the long term, this can help create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
- As per a routine exercise in the past two decades, cash for work could be provided which may help in creating jobs and reducing unemployment
- Another strategy would be to involve women in the implementation of these projects; based on the Taliban’s limitation on women in all sectors, this initiative could be implemented by women for women.
- Additionally, efforts are needed to ensure free media coverage of the aid distribution which would help increase transparency and accountability in aid distribution.
- International observers and monitors should be involved in the implementation of these humanitarian projects to help ensure that aid is delivered fairly and reaches the most deserving people. This includes conducting third-party monitoring that examines aid effectiveness and use of resources.
- A community-driven social audit helps in the effective use of resources.
- Donor countries and agencies should strive to influence the De Facto Authorities to ensure that humanitarian aid is distributed to vulnerable households fairly and equitably.
By putting these tactics into practice, aid distribution activities in Afghanistan can be more successful and help to meet the needs of the most vulnerable population.
8. Conclusion
The ongoing humanitarian crises in Afghanistan require a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of food insecurity, overall poverty, economic fragility, climate change, and conflicts. The number of people exposed to the potential famine is currently among the highest in the world. It requires a sustained commitment by the donor agencies and the international community to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to the most vulnerable populations. With the De Facto regime of the Taliban in power, it is critical that the international community work together, pressurize the regime to listen to the demands of the Afghan population, stay committed to the UN Charter on human rights and collectively address the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition as well as ensure that the Afghan people have access to the food and services they need to survive and enjoy at least basic human rights.
References
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Thompson, V., Mitchell, D., Hegerl, G.C., Collins, M., Leach, N.J., & Slingo, J.M. (2023). The most at-risk regions in the world for high-impact heatwaves. Nature Communications, 14(1), 2152.
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