KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG) convened in Istanbul on Wednesday to discuss the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis and coordinate international support, the Turkish embassy in Kabul announced.
The two-day meeting, which includes representatives from the United Nations, donor countries, and international financial institutions, focuses on aligning the international community’s priorities and efforts to support Afghanistan.
The gathering comes as Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, faces one of its worst humanitarian emergencies, with nearly 23 million people, more than half the population, relying on international aid. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that 3.5 million Afghan children will suffer from malnutrition this year, equating to one child every 10 seconds.
Ahead of the meeting, the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged donor nations to continue providing vital support to the Afghan people as international assistance continues to shrink.
“If we want to help the Afghan people escape the vicious cycle of poverty and suffering, we must continue to address urgent needs while simultaneously working towards long-term resilience and stability,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan.
Ratwatte emphasized the need for a shift from emergency aid to more sustainable solutions that address the root causes of vulnerability, calling it crucial for Afghanistan, the region, and the world.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies in the country are facing a sharp decline in funding, especially after the suspension of US aid, which has historically been Afghanistan’s largest source of support.
UNAMA warned that the global funding crisis could jeopardize the fragile progress made in stabilizing Afghanistan over the past decades, putting the population at grave risk and exerting additional pressure on the region.
Earlier, the WFP cautioned that the suspension of US food aid to countries like Afghanistan could lead to catastrophic consequences, describing it as a “death sentence for millions facing extreme hunger and starvation.”
