Canberra has announced an additional humanitarian aid package of 50 million Australian dollars for Afghanistan amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. Australia‘s Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the continuing repression of women and girls by the Taliban and affirmed Australia’s commitment to pursue legal action with international partners against violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Afghanistan.
In a statement on social media platform X, Penny Wong highlighted that the Afghan people are enduring one of the world’s longest and most severe humanitarian crises, which has been further exacerbated by the Taliban’s failure to meet basic needs. In response, the Australian Government will provide the additional aid through established United Nations partners.
Wong expressed deep concern over the ongoing restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women and girls, including bans on employment, healthcare access, education, and participation in public life. She emphasised that Australia’s humanitarian assistance will prioritise women and girls, focusing on food security, health services, and the protection of dignity, safety, and rights.
The joint statement by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for International Development Anne Aly underlined that the repression disproportionately affects women and girls. The aid will be delivered in coordination with UN agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund to ensure it reaches those most in need.
Penny Wong reiterated that the situation in Afghanistan remains extremely grave, with nearly 22 million people requiring humanitarian assistance. She affirmed Australia’s full commitment to supporting the Afghan population, especially women and girls, by helping save lives, alleviating suffering, and meeting fundamental needs.
Meanwhile, UNICEF has reported that Afghanistan faces one of the world’s most severe child malnutrition crises, with approximately 3.7 million children affected by severe malnutrition annually. UNICEF representative Tajuddin Oyewale emphasised the urgent need to address this crisis as economic decline, drought, and lack of aid have worsened the situation since 2021.
According to the World Food Programme, over 90 percent of Afghan families cannot afford sufficient food, putting children at risk of hunger and irreversible developmental damage due to malnutrition.
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