Global Community Urged to Act on Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan

The economic and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan are worsening, prompting international organizations and governments to take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of Afghans, particularly women and girls. Despite concerns about the Taliban’s human rights record, experts believe that technical and diplomatic solutions can be found to address these issues without bolstering the group’s rule.

The Dire Situation

On the ground, millions of people are facing food insecurity and lack of access to basic healthcare. The Taliban’s human rights abuses have exacerbated the crisis, particularly for women and girls who are being targeted by oppressive policies.

Recommendations

• Restore Central Bank Credentials: Human Rights Watch is urging governments, the UN, the World Bank, and the Taliban to work together to restore the credentials of Afghanistan’s Central Bank and allow it access to international banking systems.
• Wage Support and Food-for-Work Programs: HRW recommends reaching an agreement on a mechanism to provide wage support for essential workers and food-for-work programs, which have been providing vital assistance to millions of families.
• Alternative Banking Solution: If an agreement with the Central Bank is not possible, HRW suggests designating a private bank or entity to process humanitarian transactions, monitored by officials from the World Bank, UN, or an independent auditing entity.
• Guidance for Private Banks: The US Treasury Department and other financial authorities should issue guidance to allow the designated private bank or entity to utilize incoming electronic dollar deposits from humanitarian agencies to purchase currency outside the country and transport it to Afghanistan for deposit in private banks.

Immediate Action Required

The international community must take immediate action to:

• Review Sanctions Policy: Review sanctions policy and issue new licenses and guidance to facilitate liquidity and availability of paper currency to address the humanitarian crisis.
• Exempt Humanitarian Transactions: Ensure that legitimate financial transactions related to humanitarian activities are excluded from the scope of UN sanctions.
• Issue New Guidance: Agree on issuing new guidance or “Implementation Assistance Notices” to ensure that UN sanctions do not present obstacles to legitimate financial transactions involving the Central Bank.

Final Calls to Action

HRW urges the Taliban to:

• End Human Rights Violations: End its human rights violations and promote the establishment of robust mechanisms to monitor human rights in Afghanistan. Donors, the UN, and other international institutions must also press the group to stop violating rights.