Three Years On

It has been three years since a new flag was raised over the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. Medair continues to respond to the critical humanitarian situation as it has for nearly three decades, regardless of who governs the territory, as the focus is always on service to the most vulnerable.  Day-to-day security has improved for millions of people, allowing increased humanitarian access, yet ¹ , Afghans continue to grapple with tremendous challenges.

Some of the major challenges are economic crisis, climate change, remnants of decades of conflict, entrenched poverty, high levels of unemployment, food insecurity and a fragile healthcare system. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 23.7 million people in Afghanistan will need humanitarian assistance throughout 2024, with 25 percent of them being women and 52 percent children. The country’s fragile healthcare system leaves 17.9 million people in need of healthcare services. The food security situation remains precarious and vulnerable to seasonal economic and climate shocks ² . Over a third of Afghanistan’s population, 14.2 million people, experiences high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC phase 3+), including 2.9 million people in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification  (IPC) phase 4, which denotes an emergency ³ .

Moreover, Afghanistan is ranked 7^th among the most vulnerable countries to climate change ⁴ . The World Bank projects that global warming will cause Afghanistan to experience temperature increases higher than the global average. Since 1950, temperatures in Afghanistan have risen by 1.8 ⁰C,  compared to the global average of 1.5 ⁰C ⁵ . This has led to prolonged drought, land degradation, and natural disasters such as avalanches, flash floods, and landslides due to increased rainfall on arid land. Additionally, The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) anticipates a continuous decline in per capita incomes throughout 2024, further deteriorating human development outcomes. UNDP projects real GDP growth of 0.4 percent in 2024, but with a population increase of over 2.7 percent ⁶ , GDP per capita is expected to fall from US$512 in 2020 to US$345 in 2024 ⁷ .

Medair's Unwavering Commitment: Lifesaving Aid in Afghanistan's Most Challenging Regions

Despite the complex crisis and persisting challenges, Medair continues to provide unwavering lifesaving humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan through integrated and multisectoral initiatives, including health and nutrition services. Medair ensures that communities have access to safe drinking water and helps secure food for vulnerable households. Tahmina, one of Medair’s female medical field staff members, works in remote villages of the Central Highlands. Amidst restrictions, female personnel like her are able to continue serving within the health sector, Tahmina expresses, "Medair goes the extra mile to reach places where you cannot find the footprints of many aid organizations, despite numerous challenges in Afghanistan."

In 2023 alone, 279,082 people in the Southern and Central Highlands regions of Afghanistan benefited from Medair’s humanitarian efforts. Zohal, a woman Medair served, told us, “The nearest clinic in this area is located five hours away from our place. Medair staff came to our community, and I visited this clinic soon after Setara’s birth. I know it is important to come to the clinic. I feel that these good doctors take care of me and my daughter. It gives me very good feelings.”

World Humanitarian Day: Renewing Commitment to Afghanistan's Crisis

As we commemorate World Humanitarian Day, Medair urges the international community not to forget the people of Afghanistan in their time of need. Despite the passage of time and shifts in global priorities, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan remains severe. Millions of Afghans continue to face extreme hardships, including food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and the devastating impacts of climate change, among others. It is crucial for the international community to maintain support and solidarity, providing essential aid and resources to help alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people. Medair's ongoing efforts demonstrate that even small contributions can make a significant difference in the lives of those most affected.  

Please continue to support Medair’s work in Afghanistan.

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Pseudonyms are used for the characters of the article.

¹. United Nations - Briefing Security Council on Afghanistan, Special Representative Urges de Facto Authorities Reverse Repressive Policies towards Women

². Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan - 2024  

³. Afghanistan: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for March - April 2024 and Projection for May - October 2024

⁴. University of Notre Dame Rankings

⁵. Climate Diplomacy - Climate-Fragility Risk Brief: Afghanistan

⁶. World Bank Group – Afghanistan Overview  

⁷. UNDP – Afghanistan Socio-Economic Outlook

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