ERADA’s Key Messages on Current Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is experiencing a large-scale and unprecedented humanitarian crisis due to recent escalation of conflict, massive displacements, and a stalling economy compounded by a severe drought and a devastating third wave of COVID-19 pandemic. More than four decades of conflicts, recurrent natural disasters, disease outbreaks and COVID-19 pandemic has plunged the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan was already grave before capture by the Taliban of Kabul and other provinces. Nearly three million people are displaced across Afghanistan and more than 18 million people are in dire need of food aid for their survival. Nearly half a million people were displaced over the past months and weeks. Most of them are displaced several times.

Experts for Relief and Development of Afghanistan (ERADA) as an impartial, independent and non-political global organization of the Afghan diaspora is gravely concerned with the unfolding but preventable humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. ERADA, therefore, wishes to bring the below to the urgent attention of concerned authorities inside Afghanistan, to the United Nations and international organizations, and to the entire international community:

1. While discussions are reported to be underway for the formation of a broad-based government that can represent all segments of Afghan society and cater for the social and economic needs of the entire population, it is imperative that urgent practical arrangements are put in place to ensure stability of law and order, resumption of basic services by public institutions across the country and provision of immediate, dignified and durable solution for the plight of millions of displaced and impoverished people, including provision of and delivery of emergency assistance.
2. ERADA warns the authorities in Afghanistan and the international community that a humanitarian catastrophe is in the making in Afghanistan, but it can be averted through urgent and immediate provision and delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need in all parts of the country.
3. ERADA calls for urgent activation of the banking system as it is the backbone of national economy, and for the resumption of trade and customs activities at Afghanistan’s borders, which can ensure availability of essential supplies for the civilian population. National and local authorities, as well as the international financial institutions, including the World Bank Group, IMF, ADB and IsDB Group, are urged that in addition to making funds available to projects, take all necessary steps to help with immediate reopening of banking system, facilitate payment of salaries of civil servants and activities of financial institutions to prevent a long-lasting damage to the economy and loss of valuable lives consequently.
4. ERADA is committed and stands ready to engage with all and do its part to assist, advise, advocate and channel its energy and wealth of expertise towards operationalization of public institutions, resumption of economic activities, and to facilitate delivery of humanitarian relief in order to alleviate the sufferings of vulnerable Afghans.
5. The international community is also urged to not resort to punitive actions such as sanctions and economic blockade of Afghanistan that has a proven global history of harming common population particularly poorest and most vulnerable segments of the society including women and children, and in reverse has strengthened those that are intended targets. Further economic deprivation will also create conditions of youth recruitment by groups such as ISIL.
6. ERADA urges Taliban to continue renounce violence and retaliation and continue providing all necessary assurances to all Afghans including former members of Afghan security and civilian institutions, women and youth on their safety, security and wellbeing, and on protection of their jobs, business and assets. This will also prevent massive outflow of educated cadre and the flight of wealth and resources from Afghanistan.
7. ERADA calls on Afghan authorities to urgently prioritize reopening and empowerment of the central bank of Afghanistan, National Disaster Management Agency of Afghanistan (NADRA) with provision of necessary skills, the Ministry of Refugees and Displaced Persons, Ministry of Health, and the Afghanistan Red Crescent Society to provide emergency response and relief in the country.
8. It is essential to select one organ to provide a coordination platform for national and international humanitarian assistance. To achieve this cherished goal, it is important than an independent and impartial needs assessment and monitoring mechanism is urgently established. ERADA can offer advice and technical support in this regard.
9. We call on the international community to prioritize life-saving interventions and to partner with national organizations who can reach those hardest hit by the recent conflict, drought, and COVID-19. ERADA also calls on Taliban to ensure unhindered and safe access to humanitarian and development organizations and their staff to all parts of the country.
10. ERADA calls on the Afghan and foreign private sector, the United Nations agencies, funds and programs, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), and International Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) not to abandon the Afghan population at this testing and dire time and to do their utmost to scale up humanitarian and development work to demonstrate the true spirit of “Stay and Deliver”.
11. ERADA calls on all UN and OIC member states, and other donors to play their part and provide the urgently needed funding in response to the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. This will also minimize large scale migration affecting Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and beyond and will contribute to peace and stability inside the country.
12. ERADA strongly believes that provision of development aid and immediate scale up of urgent humanitarian assistance will put the foundation for creation of jobs and employment opportunities to more than millions of Afghan women and men particularly those with higher education. In the long term, this will also prevent youth from engaging in harmful activities, including resorting to violence, radicalization and/or drug trade and addiction.
13. ERADA calls on The United Nations and other humanitarian aid organizations to preserve impeccable impartiality by focusing on their respective development and humanitarian mandates, and by refraining from taking political stands and/or siding with the narrative of donors or parties to conflicts. This will on one hand provide a safe ground for delivery of relief and development activities and on the other hand assures safety and security of aid workers throughout the country.
14. ERADA calls on all sides, including Taliban and the international community, to play their role to protect the rights of all Afghans, including women and children, so that men and women of Afghanistan are able to live and work in peace and without any intimidation or restrictions as per Islamic and globally accepted norms.
15. ERADA, calls upon all sides to the conflict, including their global and regional supporters, to abide by, and prevent violations of international law, including full respect to the rights of Afghan population and to the sovereignty of Afghanistan.
16. ERADA stands ready to offer its network’s technical expertise and professional experiences on voluntary basis to provide policy and practical advice to all.

For inquiries or additional details, please refer/contact the following ERADA resources:
E-mail: eradaafg@gmail.com Webpage: http://eradaaf.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ERADAAF