Despite the extreme humanitarian needs of its population, Afghanistan has increasingly receded from global attention, a senior Red Cross official warned Monday, urging the world not to abandon its people.
Yasmine Praz Dessimoz, the ICRC’s director of operations, told AFP during an interview in Kabul that Afghans are struggling to survive amid significant humanitarian needs and a deteriorating health system.
UNICEF warned last week that one million Afghan children are facing life‑threatening malnutrition, and 3.7 million more are suffering from acute malnutrition.
Due to reduced international aid, the United Nations reported that about 100 child‑nutrition treatment clinics have closed throughout Afghanistan.
Although Afghanistan remains one of the ICRC’s five largest operations worldwide, funding cuts have forced difficult decisions to continue supporting the Afghan population, Praz Dessimoz said.
She emphasized that Afghan people require both national and international support.
The ICRC provides assistance to 46 clinics and seven rehabilitation centres throughout Afghanistan, offering services for individuals injured in conflict or by unexploded ordnance.
It has prioritized the Durand Line—a colonial‑era border that Afghanistan has never formally recognized—and is focusing on communities affected by the Afghanistan‑Pakistan conflict, leveraging its ability to engage with parties on both sides.
Intensified clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan since October have displaced thousands of Afghans and resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries.
Praz Dessimoz voiced concern about Taliban restrictions on women, which include bans on education beyond primary level and limitations on certain professions.
She said the organization could retain female staff in its health programs, but the greater worry is the future: if the next generation receives no education, there will be no replacements for essential roles.
She underscored the vital role of women health workers, as their presence enables care delivery and ensures women receive care close to home.
During her week‑long visit, she met with Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Praz Dessimoz stressed that engaging in dialogue with the authorities is essential.
The Taliban regime, which seized power five years ago, is officially recognized solely by Russia.
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