The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed serious concern about the rising humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan due to an increase in drought-induced displacement and food insecurity. The ICRC is urging government and international community to do more to address the growing needs.
Over the past three years, Afghanistan has experienced successive droughts, the worst in decades. This has led to an increase in humanitarian needs, including displacement, food insecurity and a public health crisis. As of January 2020, about 1.6 million people are estimated to have been increasingly affected by the drought-induced displacement.
The ICRC has responded by providing water to more than 300,000 people and food assistance to more than 180,000 people across Afghanistan. However, due to the scale of the crisis, much more needs to be done to meet the increasing needs of the Afghan people.
The ICRC is calling on the government of Afghanistan and the international community to do more to respond to the crisis. This will require a greater commitment to supporting the most affected communities, providing access to safe water, food and other essential supplies, raising humanitarian funds, and protecting and helping those people suffering the consequences of the crisis.
