More than 23 million Afghans in dire need of humanitarian aid: UNAMA report

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reports that 23.7 million people will need urgent humanitarian assistance in 2024, Khaama Press reports.

Despite the decline in violence, Afghanistan continues to grapple with significant humanitarian challenges, UNAMA stressed on Sunday.

According to the agency’s statement, of the 23.7 million persons in need of assistance, 5.9 million are women and 5.4 million are men, Khama Press reports.

Expressing similar concerns, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has also highlighted the serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Millions of Afghans are suffering the consequences of four decades of conflict, poverty, recurring disasters and economic recession.

Since the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021, political change, contraction in the economy and reduced levels of donor funding have increased risks and needs at the local level, leading to an increase in humanitarian crises that include forced exile. And marked as reduction. International aid.

Returnees from neighboring countries face myriad obstacles including lack of food, clean water, adequate shelter and employment opportunities.

Natural disasters such as recent earthquakes and floods, as well as the recent increase in expulsions of migrants from neighboring countries, have underlined the urgent need for humanitarian intervention, Khama Press reports.

According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, about 2,800 Afghan migrants returned from Iran on May 1, both voluntarily and forcibly, according to TOLOnews.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has described the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, especially the rights of women and girls as well as religious and ethnic minorities, as grave, citing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance for the 23.7 million people there. . survive.

According to the report, Iran and Pakistan host about 7.7 million Afghan nationals, of whom about 1.6 million have been deported to Afghanistan since 2021.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International and some human rights organizations have expressed concern over the continuing process of expelling Afghan migrants from Pakistan and demanded a stop to this trend.