The transition of power in Afghanistan has caused immense uncertainty across Afghanistan and is compounding a decades long humanitarian and protection crisis that has more than 18 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan were already some of the largest in the world at the start of the year, and now the situation is rapidly worsening by nearly every measure. Women and children represent 80% of Afghans who have been forced to leave their homes since May and 75% of those in need of aid.
While all eyes had been on the airport in Kabul, the reality is most Afghans in need of aid and protection remain in Afghanistan. The Biden Administration must maintain its commitment to needs inside of Afghanistan by scaling up humanitarian assistance to frontline NGOs like the IRC and pressing for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors, particularly to reach women and girls who The U.S. should urge safe passage for Afghans evacuating the country, and provide aid and support to neighboring countries who are hosting Afghans while continuing to scale up its own protection programming.
The International Rescue Committee began work in Afghanistan in 1988 and has been present through three decades of crisis, providing millions of people with shelter, education, clean water, health support and other aid. We will stay as long as we are needed. The lives of countless Afghans depend it.
Dear President Biden,
Around 550,000 people have been displaced by conflict in Afghanistan this year and displacement levels are soaring. 18.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance - 75% of those people are women and children. Your administration must maintain its commitment to needs inside of Afghanistan with robust and flexible funding, and leverage U.S. humanitarian diplomacy to ensure unfettered humanitarian access, including commitments to the safety and security of aid workers and the freedom of movement and work for female aid workers. The role of women in the humanitarian sector is crucial to ensure that programs continue for women and girls who could lose access to urgently needed services. The U.S. should further call for all parties to facilitate safe passage for Afghans evacuating the country, and provide support to neighboring countries while continuing to scale up its own protection programming. Afghanistan is on the precipice of a humanitarian catastrophe. This situation requires your administration to keep its commitment to Afghans in need of safety and aid.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Sincerely,
[your name]
