Three Years On: Afghans are Paying the Price for the World’s Neglect

August 13, 2024 Afghanistan -

Millions of Afghans continue to struggle in one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises, three years after the change in power. Heavily dependent on humanitarian aid, Afghans are trapped in cycles of poverty, displacement, and despair. Afghanistan is at risk of becoming a forgotten crisis without sustained support and engagement from the international community, warn Action Against Hunger (ACF), CARE International (CARE), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), INTERSOS, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), People in Need (PiN), Save the Children International, and World Vision International (WVI).

Afghanistan is experiencing shock after shock—the ongoing economic crisis, the legacy of decades of conflict, the impacts of climate change, and the gender crisis have taken a devastating toll on the country. Despite the improvements in the country’s overall security situation, which has facilitated access to many new regions that were previously unreachable, there are still myriad of challenges that hinder us from reaching all those in need effectively. The Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) 2024 shows that an estimated 23.7 million people are reportedly in need of humanitarian assistance, 52% of whom are children and 25% women. Food insecurity is rampant, 6.3 million people remain displaced within the country, and unemployment has doubled compared to the past year.

Though humanitarian aid has been a lifeline to Afghan communities, the humanitarian funding appeal for 2024 has received only 25% of requested funds as of 13 August 2024. Shrinking humanitarian funding is adversely impacting people’s daily lives, and a lack of funding for medium and longer-term programming has only heightened underlying vulnerabilities, adding to the humanitarian burden. Already this year, 343 mobile health teams have shut down, which equals 52% of all mobile health teams. This has had a significant impact on the health and nutrition response, as populations are not able to access essential lifesaving services. With 12.4 million people facing acute food insecurity that is expected to worsen, which could leave over half a million malnourished children deprived of lifesaving nutrition. Mothers are also disproportionately affected; typically, they are the last to eat and eat the least. Families, especially women-headed households, are being forced to make agonising decisions to survive, including relocating their families within the country, often joining informal settlements, making treacherous journeys across borders, and sending children to work. The growing humanitarian financing gap combined with the discontinuation of development assistance since August 2021 are pushing the country and its people into deeper poverty and vulnerability.

Signatories to this statement underscore that the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan cannot be addressed with humanitarian assistance alone and a comprehensive, sustained, and contextualised response from the international community is required. Afghanistan desperately needs long-term development assistance to address the root causes of poverty. Diplomatic engagement is crucial to creating an enabling environment in Afghanistan that will support upscaling international aid efforts to include development projects alongside emergency assistance. The current isolationist approach of most donor countries does not support durable solutions to the challenges faced by the people of Afghanistan, especially children, women, ethnic and other marginalised groups. This requires ongoing cooperation between humanitarian and development actors, including local organizations, with the UN-led coordination system to ensure collective, principled, and strategic engagement with the de facto authorities (DfAs) to address operational challenges (including a range of bureaucratic and administrative impediments, challenges to transfer funds to Afghanistan), facilitate timely response to crises, and conduct crucial advocacy in compliance with international human rights standards.

Humanitarian actors in Afghanistan assess that inaction from the international community is costing the most vulnerable Afghans dearly. Without rapid efforts to increase diplomatic engagement and longer-term sustainable funding, Afghans, especially women and girls, will be left to suffer for years to come. Poverty is nearly universal, and humanitarian needs are rising due to the ever-growing economic crisis, the impacts of climate change, the gender crisis, and diminishing aid.

We call on the international community to:

1. Increase humanitarian and diplomatic engagement with the DfA to improve our ability to reach all people in need, provide aid effectively, efficiently, and equitably, and push the DfA to adhere to international human rights standards, including their obligations towards all genders of the population. Long-term relationship building and continuous engagement with the DfA, underpinned by expertise in humanitarian access negotiations and policy dialogue, is increasingly important if Afghanistan’s most fundamental challenges are to be addressed.

2. To avoid the country falling into deeper poverty and isolation, donors must bolster the return of development and longer-term programming and funding to build resilient communities that are less dependent on aid. This should include investments in gender responsive/transformative agriculture, climate change adaptation, market-based approaches for food value chains, access to financial services for smallholder farmers, and for women-led micro and small businesses. Humanitarian partners are increasingly stepping up to deliver principled and impactful durable solutions programming in Afghanistan, and there are tangible opportunities to scale up and broaden best practices.

3. The protection and safeguarding of the humanitarian space should remain a critical priority for ensuring a needs-based and principled humanitarian response in the country. Humanitarian partners over the years have delivered assistance to affected communities in line with humanitarian principles. We urge the international community for its continued support.

4. The international community should seek cooperation from the DfA on issues of mutual interest, such as economic development, while keeping up key demands such as lifting bureaucratic and administrative impediments (BAIs) and granting unimpeded humanitarian access across the country.

5. Fully fund the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), and critical humanitarian funding should be sustained, as part of which there should be an increase in the volume and quality of funding to Afghan civil society organizations, especially Women-Led and Women Rights Organizations (WLOs/WROs) and organizations of persons with disabilities, so that partners have access to quality funding and humanitarian organizations can support the most vulnerable and marginalised people.

6. The continuation of gender-responsive multi-sectoral programming should be supported by ensuring that all humanitarian and long-term programs include a strong gender perspective and address the specific needs and rights of women and girls. To continue with both gender-responsive sectoral approaches as well as specialized services, humanitarian partners need flexible funding, so the most vulnerable groups continue receiving much-needed services.

7. Donor governments should continue to reassure financial service providers that they are able to facilitate transactions into and within Afghanistan, increasing private and public confidence in doing business in Afghanistan and easing the current impediments to the transfer of funds into the country.

Notes to editors

  • There are an estimated 23.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan in 2024. Despite the severity of needs, only 25 per cent of the USD 3.06 billion required for the humanitarian response has been funded so far this year.
  • By June 2024, there are 6.3 million protracted Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
  • Approximately 680,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan since September 2023, predominantly entering the country at the Torkham border crossing (IOM).
  • Afghanistan registers marginal improvement despite climatic shocks and high food prices, pushing 14.2 million people into high levels of food insecurity. (IPC Analysis May-October 2024)
  • Afghanistan suffers from extreme weather events and environmental disasters. Most recently, in July 2024 severe floods impacted 29 districts across Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, and Nuristan damaging homes, crops, and infrastructure and affecting 1,925 families (OCHA). A 6.3 magnitude earthquake affected the Herat in October 2023, impacted 2.2 million people, damaging over 47,000 homes (OCHA).
new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.