Sweden urged to develop Afghanistan support plan

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Solidarity Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) has urged the Swedish government to develop a sustainable, long-term support plan to help address Afghanistan’s economic, humanitarian and environmental crises.

Formerly known as the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, the SCA emphasized in a statement that “the people of Afghanistan are suffering severely from poverty and oppression.”

It highlighted that forced repatriations by Pakistan and Iran are worsening an already dire situation, with millions of refugees being sent back into Afghanistan.

The committee also warned that the abrupt reduction in aid from the US has had catastrophic consequences, while financial support from other donor nations is also dwindling.

SCA estimated that millions of Afghan children are at risk of severe malnutrition this year, particularly following the US decision to end support for a key nutrition program.

“Sweden cannot stand idly by,” the SCA said, noting that Sweden has a long-standing commitment to promoting human rights, gender equality, and global solidarity through its foreign and aid policies.

The SCA urged the Swedish government to quickly present a comprehensive plan detailing how Sweden can contribute to mitigating the crisis. It stressed that the plan must be sustainable and development-oriented to ensure lasting impact.

kk/sa