Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has warned that cuts to humanitarian assistance and a lack of diplomatic engagement with the Taliban could further deepen Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
Egeland said reducing humanitarian aid at a time when millions of Afghans remain dependent on assistance could increase suffering and leave vulnerable communities facing even greater difficulties in accessing essential services.
He also cautioned against refusing diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, arguing that isolation could make it more difficult to address Afghanistan’s growing humanitarian needs. Engagement, he suggested, remains important for humanitarian actors seeking to reach affected populations and respond to urgent challenges.
Afghanistan continues to face significant humanitarian pressures, with communities struggling with poverty, displacement, food insecurity and limited access to basic services. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for continued international support to prevent further deterioration of living conditions.
The warning comes as international funding for Afghanistan’s humanitarian response faces increasing pressure. Aid agencies have raised concerns that funding shortages could force reductions in essential programs and services, particularly in areas where people have few alternatives.
Egeland’s remarks highlight the difficult balance between international concerns over Taliban policies and the need to maintain humanitarian assistance for ordinary Afghans.
He stressed that cutting aid and limiting diplomatic engagement could ultimately worsen the humanitarian situation, rather than reducing the challenges facing Afghanistan.