Norwegian Refugee Council Shuts Afghan Offices Amid Aid Cuts
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has voiced fresh alarm over Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, warning that sharp aid cuts have forced it to close some offices and reduce staff.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has voiced fresh alarm over Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, warning that sharp aid cuts have forced it to close some offices and reduce staff.
The organisation says dwindling financial support threatens essential services for millions of Afghans.
In a statement released on Tuesday, 25 March, the NRC highlighted a widespread drop in humanitarian aid. This has weakened the presence of relief groups in Afghanistan, endangering countless lives. Since January, the NRC has closed two operational centres in the country. It warned that two more may shut within months without urgent funding.
“The centres have been crucial in supporting returning and internally displaced Afghans, providing assistance with housing, food, legal assistance and referrals to healthcare providers, particularly for Afghan women who are heading their families and depend on female-to-female aid,” the NRC stated.
Despite the closures, the NRC pledged to keep supporting Afghanistan’s vulnerable, including women and children. It blamed the funding crisis on the U.S. suspension of aid and cuts from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The group cautioned that global support for at-risk groups could plummet further.
Suze van Meegen, NRC’s interim country director in Afghanistan, described the situation as dire. “These funding cuts have far-reaching consequences. They extend from communities that have lost access to basic assistance to thousands of experienced Afghan staff that have lost their livelihoods,” she said.
The NRC urged swift action from the international community to avert a deeper crisis. It appealed for funds to help a population scarred by decades of conflict. This is not the first time the organisation has raised concerns. It has previously warned that aid reductions could disrupt its work across multiple nations.
