The world should not forget Afghanistan | Opinions

In a world where crises compete for attention, Afghanistan, once at the forefront of international aid and media coverage, now sits in the shadows. This year, the global focus was overwhelmingly on the victims of the wars in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.

The multiple crises plaguing Afghanistan barely make the headlines in the international media, yet they persist. Afghans are going through a worsening humanitarian, climate and economic crisis, characterized by severe poverty, food insecurity and dwindling aid.

In 2024, 23.7 million people – more than half the population – required humanitarian assistance. Reports indicate that Afghanistan has fourth the largest number of people facing severe hunger and food shortages. About 12.4 million Afghans they don’t know where their next meal will come from, ranking their country among the peaks”hotspots of hunger” in addition to Palestine, Yemen, Haiti and Syria.

About 80 percent families they live on less than $1 a day per person. Almost four million children, pregnant and lactating women are malnourished. These already dire circumstances are exacerbated by frequent natural disasters from which communities have no capacity to recover.

Earthquakes, floods and landslides regularly devastate the country. For example, in October 2023, several 6.3-magnitude earthquakes struck Herat province, killing at least 2000 people and wounding thousands of others. More than 10,000 homes were destroyed, and more than 20,000 were severely damaged. At least 275,000 people were affected and needed help.

Despite some relief efforts in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, Herat remains devastated. Thousands of families are facing harsh weather conditions for the second winter without permanent housing or adequate access to water, food and sanitation. Destroyed schools were not rebuilt.

Climate change has also affected Afghanistan. Despite contributing less than 0.1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it ranks among the 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change. Problems such as drought and water shortages are particularly serious.

In Kabul, water shortages have become so dire that UNICEF warned this year that the city could run out of groundwater by 2030 if urgent measures are not taken. The lack of water threatens not only the urban population but also rural communities where droughts have destroyed local agriculture and livestock.

Afghanistan also struggled with a weak economy. There is unemployment doubled since last year as the forced return of Afghan nationals from neighboring Pakistan has cut vital economic lifelines. Despite growing hostility towards Afghans in neighboring countries, emigration continues at a rapid pace. About eight million people have left the country since 2020, according to data from the International Organization for Migration.

Many families consider leaving not only because of economic difficulties but also because girls and women are deprived of education and employment.

These multiple crises are clearly visible in Kabul. Without access to work, many women are forced to beg with their children on the street, while boys sell plastic bags, shine shoes and collect trash to earn money. Many workers and cart drivers turned to begging, often waiting in front of bakeries for pieces of bread.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Afghanistan rarely makes international headlines. This silence is especially heartbreaking when you consider the growing number of children who are forced to work in the cold of winter to earn a miserable living. Their stories of suffering deserve to be heard and acknowledged.

However, Afghanistan needs more than attention. This requires meaningful action. The international community must recognize that the plight of the Afghan people is as urgent as the situation of the people of Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine. A poverty-stricken and disaster-stricken Afghanistan abandoned by the international community can only be a source of instability in the region.

In order to permanently break the cycle of hunger and poverty, the international community, non-governmental organizations and donor countries must invest in sustainable, long-term solutions. This includes building irrigation canals and dams, developing agriculture and livestock, improving infrastructure and creating jobs. Such efforts will help rural people stay in their communities, cultivate their land and ensure a better future for their children. Rural development would inevitably also help the development of urban centers.

The silent suffering of Afghanistan and its condition demand urgent action. By addressing the root causes of its crises, the international community can restore hope and dignity to its citizens and work towards a prosperous world where no nation is left behind.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.