Daniel Endres, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Afghanistan, Hails Aid Workers and Calls for Continued Support to Vulnerable Afghans [EN/Dari/PS]

Kabul, 17 August 2023: In two days’ time, on 19 August, we will commemorate World Humanitarian Day – a day in which we recognize the dedication and bravery of aid workers around the world and honour their service and sacrifice in helping the most vulnerable. This year, World Humanitarian Day marks the twentieth anniversary of the deadly bombing of the United Nations Headquarters in Iraq which killed 22 of our colleagues, including UN Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello. It was a tragic day and one that serves as a constant painful reminder of the risks that humanitarians face when going about their daily work.

Since assuming the role of Humanitarian Coordinator, a.i, for Afghanistan in June, I have been humbled by the dedication shown by all humanitarian personnel in Afghanistan, not least our Afghan women colleagues who have been increasingly prevented from participating in the aid operation in the manner that they should and need to if we are to be able to reach all populations equally. Women humanitarian workers play a vital role in the delivery of assistance globally – often serving as the only lifeline for women and girls – and their unique contribution cannot be undertaken or replaced by others.

Humanitarian workers in Afghanistan – particularly our national women staff – have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to assisting vulnerable Afghan communities and families, reaching more than 26 million people across all of the country’s 401 districts in 2022 with aid. This year, they have continued in their effort, reaching more than 23.6 million people, including 12 million women and girls, with at least one form of assistance.

Over the past two years, large-scale humanitarian assistance has kept a significant proportion of the Afghan population alive, ensuring that they have enough food on the table to eat, are able to access basic health services and clean water, and have a roof over their heads during the harsh winter months. So far in 2023, some 20.1 million people have received food assistance, 8.4 million people have benefited from health services, and 3.1 million children have received life-saving preventive and curative nutrition treatment.

However, massive funding cuts are forcing life-saving programmes to close at an alarming rate. Already, the number of people targeted for food assistance has been slashed from 13 million at the beginning of the year to nine million in March, and 5 million people in May. Additionally, more than 260 static and mobile health facilities have had to discontinue their services, limiting access to primary health care for 2 million people. Many more activities are affected, with further disruption and closure of programmes inevitable should no additional funding be received.

In 2023, a staggering 29.2 million people in Afghanistan – more than two-thirds of the population – require humanitarian assistance to survive, a 480 per cent increase in just five years. Yet, the 2023 Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan is currently only 25 per cent funded and experiencing critical shortfalls amounting to US $1.3 billion, leaving vulnerable Afghan families staring down the barrel of hunger, disease and even potential death as winter approaches.

We simply cannot allow this to happen. Communities around the world are depending on humanitarians to step up when others can’t or unwilling – no matter who they are, no matter where they are, no matter what.

We thank the world for having stood in solidarity with the Afghan people over the past years. However, with the country at the frontline of climate change and still reeling from decades of conflict, humanitarian aid is for many the only hope left. We once again, urge the world to stand behind the Afghan people at this critical time and prevent the situation from descending into a humanitarian catastrophe.