The group announced in a press release on January 6th that it had reached agreements worth $10 million to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The UNHCR High Commissioner for Refugees is leading the project, which aims to increase access to livelihood opportunities, healthcare, and education in Afghanistan.
Under these agreements, the UNHCR reaffirms its commitment to providing education for over 30,000 school-age children in Afghanistan in coordination with initiatives that support education in the country. This includes building sixteen schools that will serve both male and female students. With an emphasis on improving and growing healthcare services, the extensive projects also include the opening of eight healthcare facilities. Programs to improve vocational skills and generate employment opportunities within Afghanistan are also planned.
This initiative is taking place against the backdrop of the Taliban’s ban on women attending Afghan universities and their restrictions on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade, both of which have drawn harsh criticism from international organizations.
The UNHCR emphasizes how urgent the situation is by pointing out that over 28 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian aid. The confluence of natural disasters, climate change, economic recession, and protracted conflicts is the cause of the humanitarian crisis.