AFGHANISTAN IN CRISIS

Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has become one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Women and children – especially girls – have borne the brunt of this.

Over the past three years, the Taliban has imposed increasingly harsh restrictions on women’s rights to education, work, and move freely outside of their homes. Despite promises to rule justly, the group has resorted to its darkest ways. Female education above Grade 6 has been banned, undermining two decades of efforts to improve access to education for Afghan girls, more than half of whom were not enrolled in school even before the Taliban came to power. The ban on female education after Grade 6 has forced another 1.4 million Afghan women and girls out of school, crushing their dreams and dashing their hopes and aspirations.

Meanwhile, the suspension of large-scale international assistance has had profound impacts on the Afghan economy and people’s livelihoods. Recurrent disasters including severe flooding, prolonged droughts, and earthquakes have only exacerbated the situation. As a result, as of May 2024, close to half of the population (48%) were living below the poverty line and 12.4 million people (nearly 30% of the population) were facing acute food insecurity.  More than half of the children (approximately 6.5 million) are without enough to eat.

In many instances, the poorest families have resorted to marrying off their young daughters to older men. The harsh restrictions on women’s dress, freedom of movement, and right to education and work have resulted in a mental health crisis among Afghan women and girls. Nearly 70 percent reported feelings of anxiety, isolation, and depression.