Afghanistan one year on

Monday, August 15 marked one year since the new government took power in Afghanistan.

Islamic Relief spokespeople are available for comment in Afghanistan.

When the US and UK withdrew their troops last August, 75 per cent of the country’s GDP came from international aid and that supply of money was turned off overnight. Combined with global financial sanctions, an economic crisis ravaged the country.

Islamic Relief is calling on the financial restrictions to be lifted to avoid yet another year of a humanitarian catastrophe.

24.4 million people (almost 60% of the population) now need humanitarian aid – an increase of 30% in the past year. A shocking 97% of people are expected to be in poverty by the end of the year and 19.7 million people are regularly going hungry – the highest number in the world.

Islamic Relief staff in Afghanistan were available to speak about the humanitarian situation on Monday 15 August with case studies.

For any questions or to request to interview one of our spokespeople, please contact:

Islamic Relief started working in Afghanistan in 1992, and we set up our first permanent office in 2001 in response to the conflict.

We have worked in a number of areas, from food provision (working with the UN’s World Food Programme) and water and sanitation to education and orphan support and seasonal programmes like Ramadan and Qurbani distributions.

Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.

Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.