Concerns have been raised about the significant risk that funding reductions pose to the welfare of women in Afghanistan, according to the leader of a prominent humanitarian organization.
Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, reported on Sunday that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the decreasing financial assistance for non-profit organizations and humanitarian efforts in the country.
In 2022, the NRC assisted over 772,000 individuals in Afghanistan, but this figure dropped to around 491,000 in 2023. The agency supported 216,500 individuals last year, highlighting that nearly half of those helped were women.
Egeland emphasized his concerns based on his visits to Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control in 2021, noting that numerous peer organizations have recently cut back on their programs and reduced staff.
He stated, “Funding cuts represent the greatest challenge to initiatives aimed at aiding Afghan women, and the lack of educational opportunities is a significant threat to their future well-being.”
The situation in Afghanistan deteriorated drastically following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, which caused millions to plunge into poverty and hunger as foreign aid was nearly halted instantly.
Sanctions against the new government, restrictions on bank transfers, and the freezing of billions in Afghan currency reserves have inhibited the country’s access to global financial institutions, a vital lifeline that sustained its aid-dependent economy before the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.
In response to the ongoing crisis, organizations like the Norwegian Refugee Council have played a critical role in maintaining essential public services, including education and health care programs focused on nutrition and immunization.
Nevertheless, the challenges faced by women and girls in accessing these services have intensified due to governmental restrictions and a significant shortage of female healthcare providers, an issue exacerbated by decrees issued by the Taliban.
Egeland remarked that Afghan women and girls still remember when global leaders proclaimed that education and human rights were their “top priority.” He lamented, “Currently, we are unable to even provide support for livelihoods for widows and single mothers,” sharing his thoughts during a phone interview from the Herat province.
The international community has historically offered humanitarian assistance in various regions despite policy disagreements but is now grappling with both opposition to Taliban governance and widespread reductions in aid funding, which have deepened the crisis in Afghanistan.
Egeland conveyed that most of his conversations with Taliban representatives during his visit focused on the urgent need for women and girls to resume their classes. He reported, “They continue to assert that it will happen, but the circumstances are not conducive,” adding that they require an agreement on what those conditions would entail.
