As the West cuts aid lifelines, Afghanistan's real crisis looms

The world must take action now to prevent a deep and lasting humanitarian crisis. But what, if anything, can be done?

A family arriving from Afghanistan cross into Pakistan at the ‘Friendship Gate’ crossing point, 7 September 2021. Saeed Ali Achakzai/Reuters/Alamy

On 13 September, nearly a month after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres convened a conference in Geneva to raise at least $600m in aid for the country. Donors outdid themselves, pledging more than $1bn, and Guterres hailed the generosity as a sign of international solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. The money, he said, would allow the UN to help Afghans “ in their time of dire need “.

It’s true. Afghanistan’s need is great even though the country sits on a wealth of natural resources. This great need led the World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to visit Kabul on 20 September.

The $1bn agreed by donors is merely a short-term fix. Substantial chunks will go to the World Food Programme and the WHO to provide desperately needed food and to keep essential health facilit…