![]() ![]() Sanctions exacerbated this shock and hindered macroeconomic adjustment, private sector activities and delivery of humanitarian aid. The primary economic shock was the abrupt cutoff of aid - some $8 billion a year, equivalent to 40% of the country’s GDP - after the Taliban takeover in August. and international sanctions contributed to the humanitarian and economic crises? In a nutshell, Afghanistan is entering famine territory. Children will be especially vulnerable to malnutrition and health problems. We are looking at terrible months ahead, with the bulk of the population falling into poverty, widespread hunger and potentially starvation deaths. In urban areas, poor and middle-class households are on the brink as government salaries have gone unpaid and day labor and other employment has dried up. Many rural Afghans will face a critical situation as they exhaust whatever food and financial resources they have in the lean period before the next harvest. Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come as winter sets in, making it harder for humanitarian assistance to reach many areas, for people to move to where they can access relief and for essential goods to reach those in need. The Afghan economy is in free fall, with GDP crashing by 30 percent and no recovery expected. Recent developments have precipitated an enormous economic shock, including the sudden regime change, the abrupt cutoff of foreign aid and international financial connections and the burgeoning loss of human capacity as technical, professional and managerial personnel fled the country while others went unpaid or became unemployed. Blue/The New York Times) How dire is the outlook for the Afghan people and economy? Will things get worse?Īfghanistan is suffering from a catastrophic “perfect storm.” Pre-existing problems - drought, the debilitating effects of decades of fighting, COVID-19 and a stagnant economy with widespread poverty and joblessness - were bad enough. Sacks of flour from a World Food Program convoy are unloaded in Afghanistan. USIP’s William Byrd says these actions are welcome but insufficient and discusses what more can be done to ensure the delivery of essential, life-saving aid to the Afghan people. Treasury Department and United Nations Security Council provided sanctions relief for humanitarian assistance flowing to Afghanistan. ![]() Millions face the prospect of falling into poverty, starvation and even death. Afghanistan is teetering on the brink of a famine and economic collapse.
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