Afghanistan at a glance

The crisis and the response

• Several key actors are reluctant to acknowledge evidence of the extent of the humanitar ian crisis: increased insecurity, high displacement (at least 297,000 IDPs and 2.89 million refugees), growing food insecurity and disrespect for human rights, especially of women and girls.
• 2009 was the worst year for civilian casualties since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.
• Accessing the needs of affected populations is difficult, as more areas become no-go zones.
• All major OECD/DAC donors (with the exception of Switzerland and Ireland) have shaped their aid support on the flawed assumption Afghanistan is a post-conflict country.
• Donors funded 76 percent of the 2009 HAP target of US$665 million. Outside the appeal, donors provided an additional US$145 million.
• OCHA reopened in Afghanistan in 2009 and set up an Emergency Response Fund.
• Many humanitarian organisations were frustrated by continued use of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), which compromise impartiality and neutrality.

Donor performance

• Politicisation of the crisis has violated principles of impartiality and neutrality and made humanitarian intervention difficult and dangerous.
• The least funded cluster is health followed by nutrition, an inadequate response to protection in a country with some of the world’s worst health and nutrition indicators.
• The same donors who call for greater transparency and accountability are consistently violating their own professed principles.

Key challenges and areas for improvement

• Humanitarian workers must act to distinguish themselves from military personnel.
• Donors must recognise the true scope of the humanitarian crisis and encourage separation of humanitarian response from military activities.
• All conflict protagonists must be encouraged to respect humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality.
• Donors must empower civil society and ensure aid is allocated only after thorough analysis of community needs and capacities.

Afghanistan Crisis Report HRI 2010 (1.52 Mb)