The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that Afghanistan is gradually slipping from international attention despite the country’s severe humanitarian needs and a deteriorating healthcare system.
Yasmine Praz Dessimoz, Director of Operations at the ICRC, made the remarks in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Kabul following a several-day visit to Afghanistan. She said Afghans are struggling to survive amid significant humanitarian needs, high unemployment and a health system under growing pressure.
Dessimoz urged the international community not to abandon Afghan communities, stressing that the country needs continued national and international support. She also highlighted the consequences of declining international humanitarian assistance.
According to the United Nations, reduced international aid has resulted in the closure of around 100 clinics that had been providing treatment for children suffering from malnutrition across Afghanistan. The development comes as UNICEF has warned that around one million Afghan children face life-threatening severe malnutrition, while millions more are affected by acute malnutrition.
The ICRC remains one of the major humanitarian organizations operating in Afghanistan. It currently supports 46 clinics and seven rehabilitation centers, including services for people injured in conflicts or by unexploded ordnance.
Dessimoz said difficult decisions have had to be made because of reductions in international funding, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining humanitarian assistance for vulnerable Afghans.
Her comments highlight growing concerns over the impact of reduced international aid on Afghanistan’s healthcare system and the country’s most vulnerable communities.