News & Stories Latest News The UK and Afghanistan: House of Lord’s International Relations and Defence Committee The House of Lords International Defence Committee has now concluded its work on the UK and Afghanistan inquiry and the official report has now been published. Read the full report Discussing development and humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan As part of the inquiry, on 23rd September Afghanaid joined a session focusing on the key development and humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan today. Our Managing Director, Charles Davy, and two members of our Board of Trustees, Dr Orzala Nemat and Mark Bowden, were included in the discussion, which covered topics from conflict and climate change, to displaced families and women's rights, to the decline in foreign aid both as a result of COVID-19 and the expected peace deal. Watch the recording here Climate change in Afghanistan Despite being one of the worlds smallest contributors to greenhouse gases, Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Increasing instances of natural disasters and extreme weather are damaging the natural resource base, destroying ecosystems and putting families lives at risk on a yearly basis. “Afghanistan, like many other parts of the world is going through a lot of issues related to natural disasters...specific strategies are required to respond to these major challenges. - Orzala Natural disasters and natural resource management Last month, million of people were hit by devastating flash floods, and 2 years ago the country was hit by the worst drought in decades, crippling the majority of the country. “With better natural resource management and water management, you would allow for economic growth... The majority of the population is dependent on and engaged with agricultural activities and with better resource management you would have greater reduction in disaster risk - reduced flooding, reduced drought, perhaps even a reduction in avalanches, which set back communities for years when they get struck. - Charles Displacement and instability Conflict and natural disasters uproot thousands of families across Afghanistan every year. Displaced families are some of the most vulnerable people in the world and their existing challenges are only magnified by crises like the spread of COVID-19. "Internal displacement is a massive issue and will have long standing repercussions in terms of being able to bring peace and stability. You have over 3 million people who are internally displaced, you have a large external refugee population outside the country... one of the real challenges, whether you have peace or not is how you deal with this increasingly vulnerable displaced population. - Mark Women and the peace process "Women are trying very hard to address this... With the massive women’s empowerment programmes that Afghanaid have implemented in rural Afghanistan, it shows that women in the urban and rural areas are wanting their rights to be guaranteed. - Orzala “They are really quite fearful that they are going to lose a lot of what has been gained and we owe it to them to stand behind them. They are half of the population and it can't just be a negotiation with the other half... It is still a very difficult place to live for women. It is imperative that the gains continue year on year. - Charles The impact of COVID-19 in Afghanistan COVID-19 and the secondary effects of the pandemic in Afghanistan has exposed vulnerabilities and exacerbated existing challenges, creating grave implications for a country already struggling with deep seated poverty, long-running conflict and an extremely fragile health system. "One overall impact of COVID-19 is the further deepening of poverty, for example during the lockdown period, the lower-middle class who were mostly relying on businesses that were small were badly effected. - Orzala “It has had a major impact in terms of the way aid is seen. The decline in western economies has also affected aid budgets. - Mark The dangers of the decline in foreign aid “Cuts in aid will be quite catastrophic… and most notably for those already in vulnerable situations - those in female headed households, the disabled, the elderly and frail. - Charles “The decline in western economies has also affected aid budgets... It is absolutely critical… that long term aid commitments must be made. - Mark Find out more about Afghanaid Afghanaid is working hard to support men, women and children across the country. What we do Who we help Manage Cookie Preferences