While one of the most important conferences on humanitarian support for Afghanistan is taking place in Brussels this week, the fading hope of Afghans is overshadowed by the looming risk of global indifference. The country is sinking deeper into an endless cycle of poverty and hopelessness.
At first glance, Kabul is a tapestry of traffic jams, bustling streets, and spontaneous markets. Throughout decades of wars and conflicts, the people's resilience has become a guiding force, enabling them to persevere through their daily routines and challenges. But behind the Afghan capital’s hive of activity, noise, and bustle lies a challenging reality that affects almost every family.
Near half a century of conflict has left the country reeling under severe constraints to access humanitarian and basic human needs. Post-August 2021, when the Taliban returned to power, led to the restriction of international donor commitments to address the basic human needs of the Afghan population.
About the author
Vijay Raghavan
Vijay Raghavan is the current country director of Action Against Hunger in Afghanistan. He has over three decades of work experience in humanitarian and social-economic development, working with U.N. agencies, international NGOs, large scale social development government programs, academic and research institutions, and public private partnership initiatives.
