Taliban Takeover: What it means; How You Can Help
Future of Aid in Afghanistan
On August 19, 2021 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced a fiscal freeze for Afghanistan, prohibiting the country from accessing the lender’s resources, as well as access to the IMF’s reserves in Special Drawing Rights (SDR)[i] assets. The 15-member council comprised of the World Bank, the IMF, the European Union, and the United States, among others, intends to “strangle” the Taliban’s finances to induce the new leaders into respecting the rights of women and religious minorities[1].
However, the cease in funding has potential for dire consequences[2]. Severe economic downturn and exacerbated poverty and hunger could not only lead to an increase in refugees but to “a total breakdown of the economy and social order”[3]. Majority of Afghanistan’s central bank assets are held outside of the country as well as a heavy reliance on foreign aid. Prior to the recent collapse of Western-backed Afghan government, the country faced extreme economic conditions such as protracted conflict, drought, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign aid to Afghanistan from the 15-member council previously accrued up to $8.5 billion per year[4].
A nation is considered aid-dependent “when 10% or more of its gross domestic product (GDP) comes from foreign aid”; Afghanistan receives 40% of its GDP from international aid.
Currently, individuals are allowed to withdraw a maximum of $200 per week from the country’s banks, yet organizations are exempt from accessing funds. Local authorities, for example, are unable to pay for staff, health services, or clean water[5].
Many foreign donors are questioning the freeze and are still willing to donate to Afghanistan. Malala Yousafzai for instance, is calling on world leaders to take urgent action calling this a humanitarian crisis that needs help and support. She also calls on governments to support young girls and ensure they have schools and access to education in their host country’s refugee camps. Angela Merkel provided her view and encouraged negotiations and discussions with the Taliban in order to assist with the evacuees of stranded Afghans. Merkel’s position favours dialogue as it would allow “the flow of humanitarian aid into Afghanistan to continue”, though she has not stated that she supports full diplomatic relations with Taliban-controlled Afghanistan[6].
Humanitarian groups believe it is possible to meet the basic needs of Afghans without providing the new leadership with economic assistance or diplomatic recognition. For instance, the United Nations held a donor conference on September 13, 2021 in Geneva where attending donors pledged over $1 billion by the afternoon’s end, vastly surpassing the initial bid of $606 million by December 2021[7].
So, what does this mean for the future of foreign aid in Afghanistan?
The question remains highly contentious. Many nations remain firm in its inability to support the new leadership unless women’s rights and religious freedoms are respected. Still, the country has suffered through multiple changes in leadership since the 1970’s and has become highly dependent on foreign aid.
Here is a list of international registered charities, organizations and funds operating in Afghanistan
ActionAid – An international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty
Afghanaid – Responds to emergency assistance and supports families that have lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of conflict
CARE – Emergency humanitarian response through providing a small number of vulnerable displaced families with financial assistance, as well as food security and livelihood support to small-scale farmers
Doctors Without Borders – Running projects in five locations throughout Afghanistan
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – Medical work in Kandahar
Mercy Corps – Assisting displaced families in Afghanistan to access clean water and other essentials
The World Food Program – Continuing to serve food and is accepting donations
UNHCR – Protects and assist displaced Afghans with shelter, food, water and core relief items
UN Women – Advocating alongside and for women’s rights in Afghanistan
World Vision – Helping the most vulnerable children to overcome poverty
Here is a list of local registered charities, organizations and funds operating in Afghanistan
Afghan Planning Agency (APA) – Is an indigenous Afghan non-governmental, non-political and non-profitable organization, rendering humanitarian assistance to the people of war-torn Afghanistan
Ministry of Women Affairs (MoWA) – The voice of Afghan women for the Defense of the Islamic Republic in Afghanistan
Helping Hands for Women Organization (HHWO) – A humanitarian non-profit, non-governmental national organization that works with various civil society organizations to protect and serve the welfare of Afghan women and children through providing assistance to victims of war
Voice of Women Organization (VWO) – Focuses on women’s rights issues, gender equity and equality
How to Help Women[8]
Women for Women International – Donations for emergency relief fund
Vital Voices – Established a fund in association with Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security to protect rights activists in Afghanistan
Help local Journalists[9]
International Media Support in partnership with the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee – Donations to protect residing journalists
References:
[1] Debre, I (September 16, 2021) USA Today. Retrieved: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/09/16/afghan-aid-groups-struggle-without-access-foreign-funds/8360466002/ [2] [3] DW (September 9, 2021) UN Special Envoy Warns Blocking Funds Could Backfire. Retrieved: https://www.dw.com/en/afghanistan-un-special-envoy-warns-blocking-funds-could-backfire/a-59138582 [4] Debre, I (September 16, 2021) [5] Debre, I (September 16, 2021) [6] DW (September 5, 2021) Germany’s Merkel Says Negotiations Needed with Taliban. Retrieved: https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-merkel-says-negotiations-needed-with-taliban/a-59092951 [7] DW (September 13, 2021) UN Afghanistan Donor Conference Raises $1 Billion with Crisis Looming. Retrieved: https://www.dw.com/en/un-afghanistan-donor-conference-raises-1-billion-with-crisis-looming/a-59162904 [8] The New York Times (August 26, 2021) How to Help Afghan Refugees and the Relief Effort. [9] The New York Times (August 26, 2021)
[i] SDR’s can be converted to government-backed money and includes units of exchange based on sterling, dollars, euros, yen and yuan[i]. Timmins, B (August 19, 2021) IMF Suspends Afghanistan’s Access to Funds. BBC News. Retrieved: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58263525
The World Bank Data (2021) GDP (current US$) 1960 – 2020 – Afghanistan. Retrieved: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=AF&view=chart
Global Rights Defenders 