RASC News Agency: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in its latest report, has revealed that in 2024, a total of 455 civilians, including 359 children, were either killed or injured in 234 incidents involving explosive devices across Afghanistan. The organization underscored that millions of Afghanistani citizens continue to face severe economic hardship, natural disasters, and the lingering effects of prolonged conflict, while international sanctions and dwindling foreign aid have further worsened the humanitarian crisis.
According to the ICRC, in collaboration with the Afghanistan’s Red Crescent Society, it has provided explosive hazard awareness training to over 240,000 people. The report also highlighted the alarming depletion of groundwater resources and the lack of sustainable infrastructure, which have severely impacted access to clean drinking water in many regions. In response, the ICRC stated that it had rehabilitated 1,247 hand-operated water pumps across nine provinces, significantly improving access to safe drinking water for 170,000 people.
The ICRC further reported that extreme rainfall and flash floods in 2024 resulted in 225 fatalities and caused extensive damage to 6,800 homes. The organization affirmed its commitment to supporting those affected by providing financial assistance, food aid, and healthcare services. Additionally, it announced that with the installation of solar-powered electricity systems at Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar, the facility now has a reliable and uninterrupted power supply.
Over the past year, the ICRC has also implemented 15 development projects across 11 provinces, generating short-term employment for 24,000 people. The organization has urged the international community to intensify humanitarian efforts and expand aid programs to address Afghanistan’s escalating crisis.
