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The Status of Humanitarian and Protection Efforts in Afghanistan

Date:
Location:
Virtual via Zoom Webinar

Announcement

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a briefing on the evolving humanitarian situation and need for civilian protection in Afghanistan.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is rapidly deteriorating. Before recent events, an estimated 18.4 million people in Afghanistan required humanitarian assistance, a doubling since last year. At least 500,000 people have already been displaced in 2021, surpassing last year’s nearly 380,000 displacements. Due to conflict in some areas and general uncertainty throughout the country, harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure is likely to worsen, generating widespread and long-term impacts. Without a sufficient response, Afghans will be forced to resort to extremes to survive. Experience shows children will be taken out of school and sent to work, cases of child marriage will increase to reduce household expenses, and the risks of mistreatment and gender-based violence for women and girls under Taliban control will rise. As needs on the ground increase, aid workers themselves will be at risk. Afghanistan had become the deadliest country in the world for aid workers with 25 deaths this year, and the security situation may further deteriorate. Meanwhile, bureaucratic constraints also threaten aid operations at a time when they need to scale up.

Representatives from three international non-governmental agencies with decades of experience in Afghanistan — the International Rescue Committee, the Danish Refugee Council and the Norwegian Refugee Council — will provide updates on the latest developments on the ground, discuss challenges to providing humanitarian aid and services and ensuring civilian protection, and identify areas where congressional engagement could play a critical role. These agencies also form part of the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP), a platform dedicated to pursuing durable solutions for Afghan refugees and other displaced populations.

This virtual briefing will be open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public, and the media. To attend, please registerhere. For any questions, please contact Kimberly Stanton (for Co-Chair McGovern) or Piero Tozzi (for Co-Chair Smith). For help with registration or technical support, please contact Matt McLaughlin of the TLHRC staff.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Christopher H. Smith
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Panelists

Moderator

Bios

Resources

Video

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
Fax: +1 (202) 226-6584
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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