Myung Park, the head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Afghanistan, recently stated that half of the population of this country relies on humanitarian assistance to survive.
The IOM chief made these remarks at the “Fourth Humanitarian Forum of the European Union” in Brussels, emphasizing the need for protection and the provision of vital services at Afghanistan’s borders and crossings.
He further stressed that the ongoing forced returns of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan are exacerbating the problems for families and communities, with half of the country’s population dependent on humanitarian aid for survival.
It is noteworthy that the Fourth Humanitarian Forum, or “European Humanitarian Forum” (EHF), focused on Afghanistan, began on Monday and continues today.
According to available information, the main focus of this meeting is “the root causes of the crisis in Afghanistan and strengthening regional cooperation for innovative and sustainable solutions.”
This meeting is co-hosted by the European Commission and Poland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, and is taking place in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
It is important to mention that with the cessation of U.S. humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, relief organizations are facing financial challenges.
Additionally, according to United Nations statistics, 22.9 million people in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian assistance this year, with 16.8 million prioritized for aid.
OCHA, or the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has requested a budget of $2.42 billion to assist these individuals.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid to Afghanistan has sharply decreased, and many humanitarian organizations have halted their operations in the country.
The World Food Programme also reports that last year it provided emergency food and cash assistance to nearly 12 million people in Afghanistan, prioritizing aid for women and girls facing “severe hunger.”
