The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Thursday, August 26, 2021 launched a $24 million urgent appeal to assist hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Afghanistan over the past two months. This is in response to the growing humanitarian situation in the country.

Stuart Simpson, IOM Afghanistan Chief of Mission, stated that the Agency is working to scale up operations to meet the most pressing, life-saving needs.

According to the Chief of Mission, priority areas include shelter and non-food aid as well as water, sanitation and hygiene, collectively known as WASH. Meanwhile, health, protection, and humanitarian assistance in border areas, as well as emergency livelihood support and social cohesion are also key.

Poverty and food insecurity rising

Meanwhile, Mr. Simpson indicated that poverty and food insecurity are currently on the rise in the country which has attracted global attention in the past months.

“Our humanitarian activities continue where possible, depending on access and security.

“Large-scale displacement driven by conflict and drought, and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are increasing poverty and food insecurity, generating massive humanitarian and protection needs in the country”.
Stuart Simpson

Currently, some 5.5 million Afghans are internally displaced, including more than 550,000 who were newly displaced this year, almost half of whom fled their homes since July. Affected families are currently living in precarious conditions which further pose risk to their survival.

“Inadequate shelter and insufficient access to sanitation and health facilities have resulted in extremely precarious living conditions for affected families. Our response is dependent on unimpeded access and guarantees for the safety of all staff”.
Stuart Simpson

The IOM appeal is based on data and assessments by its rapid response teams and protection monitors.

Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan

It comes on top of an overall $1.3 billion funding requirement for all aid partners under the Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan, which is ongoing.

According to the UN, more than 18 million Afghans, or nearly half the population, already required humanitarian assistance, including 10 million children, with needs expected to rise.

A crisis of incredible proportions is unfolding in Afghanistan as conflict, combined with drought and COVID-19, is pushing Afghans into a humanitarian catastrophe, the UN food relief agency said on Wednesday. The World Food Program (WFP) reported that one-in-three Afghans, or 14 million people, are hungry today and two million malnourished children urgently need treatment.

Meanwhile, since the beginning of the year, conflict and insecurity have driven more than 550,000 Afghans from their homes. Moreover, some 70,000 displaced people have converged from across the country into the capital, Kabul.

WFP Regional Director John Aylieff, pointed out that the cost of sustenance has surged in recent months and more Afghans are struggling to put food on the table.

Furthermore, Mr. Aylieff said “the price of wheat has gone up by 25 percent in the last months”. According to him, “it is very difficult now to see the future for this population”.

This is as a result of the economic situation and the turmoil in which the country has been thrown into. He further stated that it is very difficult to see a future which is food secure; without malnourished children.