Tánaiste announces €4 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, announced the release of €4 million in humanitarian funding today to support the Afghanistan crisis response.

This funding, marking International Women’s Day, will support the specific needs of Afghan women and girls and other vulnerable groups through Ireland’s trusted partners, the UN OCHA Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund and also UNHCR’s Afghanistan Refugee Situation Regional Response.

Announcing the funding, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said:

“The contribution announced today brings to more than €20 million the total funding provided by Ireland to the Afghanistan crisis response since 2020. Ireland remains deeply concerned at Afghanistan’s continuing humanitarian and protection crises, and in particular the disproportionate impact on women and girls of the restrictions introduced by the Taliban. We call on the Taliban to reverse their exclusionary decrees and policies, which Ireland resolutely condemns.

We will continue to advocate for the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls in all spheres of life, and to work with international partners to keep attention on the plight of Afghan women and girls.”

While the overall security situation has improved, Afghanistan continues to face one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, with 22.9 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The population’s ability to recover from more than 40 years of conflict is severely hampered by natural disasters, climate-induced shocks and an economic crisis. Increasing levels of violence and widespread human rights abuses are contribution to increased humanitarian need, with a disproportionate impact on women and girls who face severe restrictions on their participation in public life.

The Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, said:

“Decades of conflict, natural disasters, climate-inducted shocks and an economic crisis are combining to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and its impact on neighbouring states. Food insecurity, insufficient livelihood and education opportunities, and a shrinking protection space continue to force Afghans to seek protection elsewhere. Ireland is proud to partner with UNHCR to respond to the needs of Afghan refugees, including women and girls seeking education opportunities, in neighbouring states."