Trouble in Afghanistan: What is Happening and How can you support?

The Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan changes the liberties of the country’s citizens as a whole, with women and children at greatest risk. – By Kimia Amouzegar

Credit: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

These days seem dark and tumultuous, wrought with climate disasters, country-wide electricity outages, and human rights violations. Most discussed in North American news may be that of Afghanistan’s current situation.

When the Taliban originally took power in Afghanistan in the 1990s, they stripped women of their freedoms and right to work, go to school, and be financially independent. Furthermore, they were forced to cover themselves from head to toe. TV, music, and non-Muslim holidays were also banned.

However, when the US Military and the British Armed Forces entered the country under the pretense of hunting down Osama Bin Laden in 2001, the Taliban were pushed out of power, providing Afghanistan’s denizens a chance to send their daughters to school, fight for more equal rights, and hope for a brighter future

In February 2020, a cease-fire was signed between the USA and Talibans, though did not ensure the Taliban’s cease fire with Afghans, and most recently in April, president Biden announced that he will be pulling out all American troops by 9/11, despite tensions and a lack of progress in any peace treaties between Afghans and the Taliban.

A resurgence of Taliban rule in Afghanistan has occurred in the past week where 11 of 34. provincial capitals are now in the former’s control; Ashraf Ghani, their president, has fled the country. Kabul, the nation’s capital, is now in their hands, leaving millions of innocent lives in the balance, prompting tens of thousands to make an attempt to flee the country while they still can.

Since 2020, over 3 million people have been internally displaced in their country, approximately 80% of whom are women and children. Due to ongoing fighting in virtually all 34 provinces, there have been thousands of casualties, almost a third of which are children.

As someone who strives to be a source of veracity, impactful sources of donation concerning the livelihood and freedoms of innocent people are important. I came across the following causes and believe they are worthy organizations to support.

Women for Women International

In the past, their Afghan office trained women to become self-sustaining to support their families and to learn new skills. Due to precarious conditions, Women for Women is providing shelter and food to the women they’ve been working with. In full transparency, they admitted that they’re working on contingency plans to ensure that the women they’ve so far helped are self-sustaining and looking after the safety and security of their staff.

The organisation is currently looking into new ways of keeping women safe, and bringing them to safer areas.

73% Program

21% Fundraising

6% Administration

Islamic Relief Canada – Afghan Crisis Appeal

At present the IRC and their worldwide partner, the IRW, has been on the ground in Afghanistan for years and they are directly involved in feeding those displaced and those who do not have the means to feed themselves and their families.

88% Program Services

8% Fundraising

4% Administration

The United Nations Refugee Agency – Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan

UNHCR and partners are assisting newly displaced Afghans with emergency shelter, food, health, water and sanitation support and cash assistance, despite challenges in accessing vulnerable groups.

81% Program Services

15% Program Support

4% Management & Administration

Sources:

https://www.unhcr.org/5f63080b4.pdf – AFS 2019

https://give.unhcr.ca/page/86611/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=SEM21_AFG&utm_campaign=CA_PS_EN_AFS&gclid=048705bd404e1daa88fd64a6b2d16d8f&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=048705bd404e1daa88fd64a6b2d16d8f&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=donate%20afghanistan&utm_content=MRUNHCRC.2107.FR.SE.Bing.Keyword.Afghanistan%20Non-Brand....XD.Ad%20Group

https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/emergencies/afghanistan-emergency/?utm_campaign=737684094&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_content=306008121251&utm_term=%2Bislamic%20%2Brelief&adgroupid=45384233504&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvO2IBhCzARIsALw3ASrJ4VvK4hDtkz-15qo1vPS-8JvgVVWYNjjMfut-LV2TTwYO-NxwKHcaAiKhEALw_wcB

https://www.womenforwomen.org/