KABUL (TOLOnews): The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report that the humanitarian partners have reached out to 25.3 million people in total in Afghanistan.
According to OCHA, the response was enabled by a combination of new funding in 2022 of $2.3 billion and the $542 million funds carried over from 2021. However, OCHA said that $2 billion (45 percent) of the $4.4 billion required to deliver humanitarian assistance in 2022 remains unfunded.
“Between January and November 2022, humanitarian partners reached at least 22 million people with food and livelihoods support; 12 million people with access to health care (consultations and treatment); 5.9 million children and pregnant and lactating women with support to prevent and address acute malnutrition; 10.4 million people with water, sanitation and hygiene assistance; 554,400 children with access to education and education materials; 1.8 million people with emergency shelter and household items; and 5.3 million people with protection assistance,” the report said.
Meanwhile, a number of vulnerable people said that the aid provided to them was not sufficient and that they need more support.
Malik Gul Khan, a resident of Kabul, said that the he is facing severe economic challenges amid cold winter.
“There is no job over the past 14 months after the emergence of the new government,” he said.
“No one helped us. We don’t have shelter,” said Bibi Gul, a resident of Kabul.
OCHA’s report also pointed out that despite the historic scale of response so far in 2022, underfunding has meant that people’s needs were not reduced and they have not been able to start the path towards stability and independence.
“In fact, there are more people today in Afghanistan who rely on humanitarian assistance as the only source of survival,” the report said.
The concerns about Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation comes as many organizations have halted their activities following the Islamic Emirate’s decision to bar women from going to work at NGOs.
However, three major organizations including International Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children and CARE have resumed some of their activities in Afghanistan.
“The international humanitarian assistance aid to Afghanistan in 2022 has only prevented an increase in poverty,” said Abdul Naseer Rishtia, an economic affairs analyst.
The Ministry of Economy said that the aid in sectors that can create job opportunities could be more effective.
“We praise NGOs and international organizations that are cooperating for the improvement of livelihood and economic situation of our countrymen. Humanitarian activities through focusing on sectors that create jobs will be effective economically,” said Abdul Rahman Habib, a spokesman for the Ministry of Economy.
Humanitarian partners reached out to 25.3m Afghans in 2022
