In a world where crises seek attention, Afghanistan, once at the forefront of international aid and media coverage, is now in the shadows. This year, the world’s attention has focused overwhelmingly on the victims of the wars in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.
The multiple crises plaguing Afghanistan continue to linger, although they have barely made headlines in the international media. Afghans are enduring a worsening humanitarian, climate and economic crisis characterized by severe poverty, food insecurity and reduced aid.
In 2024, 23.7 million people, more than half of the population, will need humanitarian assistance. According to the report, Afghanistan is the fourth most populous country facing severe hunger and food insecurity. Some 12.4 million Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from, putting Afghanistan at the top of the list of “hunger hotspots” along with Palestine, Yemen, Haiti and Syria.
Approximately 80% of families live on less than $1 per person per day. Nearly 4 million children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are malnourished. These already dire situations are further exacerbated by frequent natural disasters from which communities have no ability to recover.
Earthquakes, floods, and landslides regularly devastate the country. For example, in October 2023, several magnitude 6.3 earthquakes struck Herat province, killing at least 2,000 people and injuring thousands more. More than 10,000 houses were destroyed and more than 20,000 sustained severe damage. At least 275,000 people are affected and in need of assistance.
Despite some relief efforts being carried out in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, Herat remains devastated. Thousands of families are facing harsh weather conditions for the second time without permanent shelter or adequate access to water, food and sanitation. The destroyed school has not been rebuilt.
Climate change is also affecting Afghanistan. Despite accounting for less than 0.1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it ranks among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change. Issues such as drought and water scarcity are particularly acute.
Water shortages are so acute in Kabul that UNICEF warned this year that the city’s groundwater could run out by 2030 if urgent action is not taken. Water scarcity not only threatens people in urban areas, but also rural areas, where drought has devastated local agriculture and livestock.
Afghanistan is also suffering from an economic downturn. Unemployment has doubled since last year, while the forced repatriation of Afghan nationals from neighboring Pakistan has cut off a vital economic lifeline. Despite growing hostility towards Afghans in neighboring countries, migration continues at a rapid pace. According to the International Organization for Migration, around 8 million people have left the country since 2020.
Many families are considering leaving their jobs not only because of economic hardship but also because girls and women are denied education and employment.
These multiple crises are clearly visible in Kabul. Without access to work, many women are forced to beg on the streets with their children, while boys sell plastic bags, shine shoes, and collect trash to earn money. I’m doing it. Many workers and wheelbarrow bearers have turned to begging, often waiting outside bakeries for a piece of bread.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Afghanistan rarely makes international headlines. This silence is especially heartbreaking considering the growing number of children who have to work in the cold winter months to earn a meager living. Their stories of suffering deserve to be heard and acknowledged.
But Afghanistan needs more than attention. It requires meaningful action. The international community must recognize that the plight of the people of Afghanistan is as urgent as that of the people of Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine. Poverty and disaster-stricken Afghanistan, abandoned by the international community, is only a source of instability in the region.
To permanently break the cycle of hunger and poverty, the international community, NGOs and donor countries need to invest in sustainable long-term solutions. These include building canals and dams, developing agriculture and livestock, improving infrastructure, and creating jobs. Initiatives like this help rural people stay in their communities, work the land, and secure a better future for their children. Regional development will inevitably help urban centers to flourish as well.
Afghanistan’s silent suffering and its plight requires urgent action. By addressing the root causes of the crisis, the international community can restore hope and dignity to its people and work towards a prosperous world where no country is left behind.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.
