Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis After Taliban Takeover

Abstract The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2021 has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, marked by food insecurity, malnutrition, human rights violations, job losses, and gender discrimination. The economic instability, coupled with drought and global warming, has compounded the challenges faced by the Afghan population. The Taliban's strict interpretation of Sharia law has led to the closure of news outlets, intimidation of journalists, and suppression of protests, further limiting freedom of expression. The hunger crisis has escalated as rising food costs and limited employment opportunities have left many families struggling to feed themselves. Malnutrition rates, particularly among women and children, have risen, with a significant number of newborn deaths reported due to lack of access to healthcare. Human rights abuses, including repression of women's rights and targeting of minorities, have reached alarming levels, causing immense suffering. Urgent international collaboration is required to address the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, provide relief assistance, and develop a long-term plan to restore security, peace, and respect for human rights in the country.

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The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021. It was not a one-day process, they have been very consistent in doing so from May 2022 and when the US government declared that it is going to withdraw all its troops. Despite assurances to preserve the rights of women and communities of religious and racial minorities, the Taliban have imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law.

The nation is dealing with challenges related to the environment and civil dignity. Afghanistan's economy is unstable and its food stocks had been severely depleted by decades of drought long before the Taliban took control. In the first few months of the Taliban's leadership, more than 20% of the Afghan economy vanished as lenders stopped supporting development, foreign nations seized state assets, market confidence fell, and international sanctions and financial restrictions caused economic seclusion. In order to solve these issues, the Taliban and funders would need to work together, but this has become more and more challenging as the Taliban moves towards becoming one of the most oppressive regimes in history.

More than 200 news outlets have closed as a result of Taliban intimidation of journalists and restrictions on press freedoms. Protesters have been tracked and forcibly vanished, and their government has ruthlessly suppressed protests. Human rights violations especially against women and minority communities have no end there.

Present scenario

Afghanistan has been facing the deepest crisis of providing the Afghan population with an adequate amount of food, shelter, health care, and education, and above all aggravating the human rights of the majority of its population.

Humanitarian demands have historically been mostly driven by war in Afghanistan; but, in 2023, several factors will play a major role, including the economic crisis, the drought, global warming, and challenges to women's and girls' safety. Conflict, natural catastrophes, the aftereffects of war, and current widespread conflict migration still continue to inhibit people from developing resistance and progressing towards rehabilitation and alternatives. The causes of humanitarian needs changed in 2022 as household disruptions changed from COVID-19 and violence in 2021 to drought, climate change, and economic changes in 2023.

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MAJOR CRISIS:

Hunger crisis

Due to the economic crisis that the country is suffering from, there isn’t ample amount of employment left for people that would cater to the needs of feeding their families. Rising food costs have made hunger a threat. The price of wheat flour, wheat grain, and rice is still much higher than the two-year average during the first week of February 2023. In addition, fertilizer costs continued to be higher than their two-year average costs further aggravating the cause of hunger issue.

Issue of Malnutrition

In Afghanistan, with Taliban taking control over the government, health care sector is deteriorating as there are no funds to maintain them. Primary healthcare access in Afghanistan is still a big issue, especially for women and children. The latest statistics reveal the deaths of 13 000 newborns in Afghanistan since January 2022 due to malnutrition and other health-related diseases.

Violations of Human Rights

Afghans have enmeshed in a human rights crisis that the international community appeared unable to resolve. The Taliban's severe repression of women's rights, retaliation against detractors, and restrictions on free speech amounted to a slide into authoritarianism. Minorities faced widespread attacks and are persecuted. The use of forced relocation, arbitrary detentions, mass punishment, torture, and other cruel treatment persisted.

Lost job opportunities

In the third quarter of 2021, more than 500,000 Afghan workers lost their jobs, and by mid-2022, the International Labour Organization estimates that 700,000 to 900,000 people will have lost their jobs since the Taliban took over.

Gender discrimination

Afghanistan is the worst country in the world for women and girls due to traditional male domination traditions, which have increased their vulnerability, lowered their capacity to recover from disruptions, and left them adversely impacted by crises. Limitations aimed at women and girls have a detrimental economic, social, physical, and psychological impact, restricting their movement freedom and preventing them from accessing essential services and occupations.

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In summary, the Taliban's capture of Afghanistan has led to a serious humanitarian catastrophe, with thousands of individuals suffering major food and medication scarcity, displaced populations, and violent conflict. For women the situation is especially terrible. To help individuals impacted by this disaster and give humanitarian relief, the rest of the world must join forces. In addition to addressing the current requirements of the Afghan people, institutions must collaborate to create a long-term plan to advance security, peace, and respect for human rights throughout the nation.

*This article is authored by Rashi Garg & Sabri Ranjan, Students from Symbiosis Law School, Noida and reviewed by Arjun Gupta, Student from Symbiosis Law School, Noida.