A coalition of 17 international aid organisations have warned Afghanistan is “on the verge of collapse” and urged the G20 leaders meeting in Rome to “identify safe, efficient payment channels” so that funding can be quickly accessed to sustain humanitarian operations.
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, Christian Aid’s Chief Executive who signed the letter alongside Save the Children, International Rescue Committee UK, AfghanAid and other international aid leaders, is demanding world leaders “stop playing politics with people's lives.”
This week, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned more than half the Afghan population - about 22.8 million people - face acute food insecurity this winter, while 3.2 million children under five could suffer acute malnutrition.
However, despite the Afghanistan’s fragile economy relying on foreign aid, the UK and other western powers have frozen international funds, including assets Afghanistan could have accessed with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Subrata De, Christian Aid’s Country Manager for Afghanistan, explained “we’re doing all we can to distribute food and emergency supplies, but we cannot run humanitarian programmes well without a functional banking system.” He added: “the situation is desperate, people are without wages, and many are resorting to selling anything to buy food.”
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, Christian Aid’s Chief Executive, said:
“Afghanistan is in crisis with millions on the verge of starvation. Reports that families are so desperate they have been forced to marry off daughters to provide food for their children are heartbreaking.
“Christian Aid, alongside partners, has been working in Afghanistan for over thirty years. We continue to fight, but the banking system collapse is turning the lights off on what little hope there is.
“Every minute G20 members wait to act is another innocent life threatened. People would expect urgent action to ensure cash is allowed back into Afghanistan via the banking system.
"World leaders must stop playing politics with people's lives. Millions will be at risk if they don’t.”
ENDS.
Notes to editors:
Text of the letter to G20 leaders can be found below.
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On October 12th, the G20 declared all Afghans are entitled to live in peace, dignity, and security. But warm words do not feed people. Afghanistan’s economy is on the verge of collapse.
Figures released on Monday show how half of all people in Afghanistan are hungry, with nearly 7million one step away from famine.
Drought and conflict underpin this crisis. Compounding that the banking system is completely broken. As Afghanistan’s harsh winter rapidly approaches, food and fuel prices are rocketing and people either simply can’t afford to buy essential supplies or have virtually no access to the money needed to buy them.
The situation is so desperate that many Afghans have sold their final possessions, and some are resorting to desperate coping strategies such as child marriage.
NGOs have worked in Afghanistan for decades, including during the previous Taliban Government. Our teams know how to ensure that aid gets directly to those who need it most. Without a functioning economy and banking system we remain restricted in what we can do.
Urgent international leadership is required. G20 members must act now to ensure cash is allowed back into Afghanistan via the banking system - inaction is punishing the Afghan people for the actions of the Taliban.
The G20 committed to the “expansion and acceleration of as much humanitarian assistance as possible.” G20 members should urgently push for steps to identify safe, efficient payment channels so that funding can be quickly accessed in country to sustain humanitarian operations. Agreements are needed to support the provision of foreign exchange. A humanitarian catastrophe awaits if the international community fails to act.
Amanda Mukwashi, CEO, Christian Aid
Charles Davy, Managing Director, AfghanAid
Matthew Reed, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation (UK)Stephanie Draper, CEO, Bond
Elizabeth Winter, Executive Director, British & Irish Agencies Afghanistan Group
Christine Allen, Director, CAFOD
Laurie Lee, CEO, Care International UK
Ahmad Masood Amer, Executive Director, Centre for Afghanistan Policy Studies
Danny Harvey, Executive Director UK, Concern Worldwide
Petter Matthews, Executive Director, Engineers Against Poverty
George Graham, Chief Executive, Humanity & Inclusion UK
Laura Kyrke-Smith, Executive Director, International Rescue Committee UK
Martin Hartberg, UK Director, Norwegian Refugee Council
Gwen Hines, CEO, Save the Children UK
James Cowan, CEO, The HALO Trust
Mark Sheard, CEO, World Vision
Carrie Brownlee, Managing Director UK, Women for Women International – UK
