Leading UK charities join forces for Afghanistan humanitarian crisis appeal

Fifteen leading UK charities joined forces on Wednesday for an appeal to help eight million Afghans at risk of starvation.

The campaign, called the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal, was launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) umbrella group, which brings charities including Save the Children, British Red Cross and Islamic Relief together in times of need.

One million Afghan children are at risk of dying from malnutrition over the next three months, with conflict and economic collapse as well as the pandemic and drought bringing Afghanistan "to a tipping point" this winter, the DEC said.

"There’s a very small window of opportunity for us to support the population... I’ve witnessed emergencies around the world, and I can honestly say this is the worst situation I have seen,” Fiona McSheehy, director of humanitarian operations for Save the Children UK said.

The DEC is asking for donations to deliver emergency food to hungry families, provide winter kits to displaced families, and support healthcare facilities.

The UK government will match public donations for the first £10 million.

“People are living hand to mouth not knowing where the next meal will come from... this is about saving lives... before it's too late," Maryann Horne, Senior Advisor for Humanitarian Crises and Emergencies for the British Red Cross said.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August as the US withdrew from the country.

International donors suspended billions in aid to Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover.

However, donors agreed on Friday to transfer $280 million from a frozen trust fund to the World Food Program (WFP) and UNICEF to support the country.