When the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021, the quick collapse of the former government caught many by surprise — although the insurgent group had made significant gains across the country once it was clear that all U.S. troops would leave.

Afghanistan is now facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The Afghan economy has no cash to pay salaries or buy food. Western aid has been suspended because the Taliban government includes designated terrorists. And millions of Afghans face acute malnutrition and starvation in the coming months. The Taliban lack capacity to manage these monumental challenges, but there is no clear alternative to their rule

Afghanistan is suffering from one of the most protracted humanitarian crises worldwide. Over 40 years of conflict and frequent natural disasters continue to undermine its population’s resilience. Returnees from Pakistan and Iran, internally displaced and chronically poor populations share inadequate basic services and scarce livelihood opportunities.

The continued deepening and geographic spread of armed conflict in Afghanistan keeps wreaking havocs amongst the population and is expected to leave over six million people in acute need of assistance in 2019. Host, long and recently displaced communities require assistance to meet their food needs, and to have access to water and sanitation facilities, as well as safe shelter and essential household items. In addition, the low capacity of the government to provide its population with basic services and meaningful opportunities hinders the country’s development, leaving 42% of the population below the poverty line