NRC: Reduction in Aid Negatively Affects Our Relief Efforts
Suzy van Meegen, the acting country director of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Afghanistan, told in an exclusive interview that the reduction in US aid to Afghanistan has negatively impacted the relief efforts of this organization.
In this interview, van Meegen emphasized the necessity of ensuring the rights of Afghan refugees by host countries and finding appropriate solutions to the migration crisis in discussions with Pakistan.
According to her, 40% of the humanitarian aid that flowed into Afghanistan last year came from the United States. The reduction or cessation of this aid negatively affects the activities of relief organizations. She also pointed out that in recent months, European countries such as Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have also reduced their aid to Afghanistan.
Meegen stated: “Last year, in 2024, US funding comprised more than 40% of the aid that was coming into Afghanistan, and now many NGOs and UN agencies have seen a significant cut. For us, this means we feel that many communities in Afghanistan have been abandoned, that they’re not receiving the support they need.”
She urged host countries to uphold the rights of Afghan refugees and mentioned that discussions are ongoing with Pakistan to find solutions for refugee-related issues.
Speaking about refugees, van Meegen added: “We also speak with authorities in Pakistan to try and find a way that all countries involved in the displacement crisis can provide rights to Afghans and support their free and dignified choice.”
She further highlighted that more than six million people in Afghanistan have been displaced from their original homes due to decades of war and economic challenges.
Van Meegen explained: “As we understand it, there are now more than 6,000,000 Afghans displaced within Afghanistan from their original home areas, and this number is hard for us to even contemplate. Our organization is based in Norway. The number of Afghans displaced within Afghanistan is now bigger than the entire population of Norway.”
The Norwegian Refugee Council has been operating in Afghanistan for at least 23 years and provided aid to more than 250,000 people in the country last year.
