Half of the children in Afghanistan are in urgent need of humanitarian support – basics like food, shelter and medical supplies.
"It is five months since we have eaten meat, vegetables and fruits," said Ferhana*, 10 years old.
Whilst children around the world are going back to school, many Afghan children will not be so lucky - with girls not being able to go back to secondary school.
Even though Afghan children are currently starving, this does not stop them from having dreams of their future.
“When I am older, I want to be a teacher so that children can have a good future” says Ferhana.
Decades of war has meant that every child in Afghanistan has grown up knowing fear and suffering, and now, their future looks uncertain.
In the past month, Save the Children has been working round the clock to draw attention to the dire situation facing Afghan families, including the estimated 75,000 children who have had to flee their homes.
We’ve resumed life-changing services in Kandahar, where we are providing basic health and nutrition assistance through our mobile clinics. We are supporting vital immunisation services to protect children from infection and disease. We will not abandon our work, staff or the communities we have served since 1976, and our commitment remains unchanged.
What global leaders are doing
While world leaders gathered earlier this month and pledged $1.1 billion in aid to support Afghans in need, this crisis needs sustained prioritisation and commitment, including from the UK Government. There is still much more to be done politically to support Afghan children, to ensure they can grow up free of the fear of violence, death and injury.
Together, world leaders must work to ensure humanitarian workers, including female workers, can safely deliver life-saving services across the country. Safe passage, protection and assistance must be secured for Afghan children and families, and the protection of children’s rights must remain at the heart of the international response.
What can be done next?
The UK Government has a vital role to play in protecting Afghan children, including ensuring that urgent humanitarian aid reaches the 5.5 million children facing crisis levels of hunger. With a freezing winter just around the corner, millions of children could succumb to malnutrition and disease in the coming months. We cannot allow a humanitarian disaster to unfold in front of our eyes.
The UK has a seat at the most powerful tables in the world, including the UN Security Council, and currently holds the presidency of the G7. It also has a long history of involvement in Afghanistan. This means it has a particular responsibility to step up and lead.
The Government’s announcement that it will double aid to Afghanistan this year, to £286 million, is welcome. It must now play a leading role with international partners to agree a principled framework for enabling the safe delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance, including by female aid workers.
The UK Government must recognise the Afghan crisis as a child rights crisis, call on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law and strengthen the protection of children, and ensure that perpetrators of grave violations against children are held to account.
The Government has also committed to being a global leader on girl’s education. With the announcement that secondary schools in Afghanistan will only be reopening for boys, the UK should do everything it can to protect Afghan girls’ right to education.
For children and families fleeing Afghanistan, the UK must support them by working to secure safe passage, protection and assistance to enable families to reach safety and build a new life.
Lots of people are standing with Afghan children
Over 15,000 Save the Children supporters signed a petition urging the UK Government to stand up for what’s right for Afghanistan's children.
Andrew Tobert Campaign Manager and Barbara Lambert Campaigner handing in Afghanistan petition signatures to the FCDO. Photo: Elin John/Save the Children
On Wednesday 22 September, we handed in the petition to a representative of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
In response, an FCDO spokesperson said:
"The UK has played a leading role in galvanising a co-ordinated international response to Afghanistan, including raising the issue at United Nations General Assembly last week."
"We have consistently called on the Taliban to ensure safe passage for those who wish to leave, provide urgent humanitarian access, protect human rights, and prevent terrorism. We have also doubled our aid to Afghanistan, which will support millions of people suffering from the conflict, drought and COVID-19.”
Save the Children will be working with our supporters to hold the Government to account. Supporter voices have been heard loud and clear, and we won’t stop until all children living in conflict are free to face the future they deserve.
*Names changed
Related links
Blog: We will not abandon our work in Afghanistan
Press release: Europe must take responsibility for asylum-seeking Afghan children
