The United Nations (UN) officials and partners said continued humanitarian support with investment in long-term solutions is urgently needed in Afghanistan.
In a press release issued, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said that about 28 million Afghans struggle to meet basic needs.
It said the economic hardships have severely affected the living conditions in the country.
“Economic hardships and continuous shocks have greatly diminished, making many reliant on humanitarian assistance,” the press release said.
A spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), William Spindler, said at a press conference that there were important challenges with aid delivery in Afghanistan.
He said that UN and non-governmental organisations’ operations had been affected by restrictions, including bans on female national staff.
He noted that while challenges persisted, UNHCR and its partners remained committed to staying the course in Afghanistan and finding ways to address challenges and continue to serve those in need, especially women and girls.
Margaret Harris, a spokesperson for the World Health Organisation (WHO), also said that WHO was very concerned by the humanitarian health emergency in Afghanistan.
She said that there were 9.5 million people with little or no access to even basic health services, and 20 per cent of the country’s population were suffering from mental health problems.
She added that four million people are also suffering from drug addiction and associated disorders, while 875,000 children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Harris said WHO had an extensive presence in Afghanistan and worked closely with the health system in the country.
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