Urgent action from Down Under: Foreign Minister Penny Wong has greenlit AU$50 million in extra humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, a nation mired in its longest-running crisis. With 22 million needing help, the funds flow via UN stalwarts WFP and OCHA to combat hunger and hardship.
Wong didn’t mince words on X, blasting Taliban suppression of women and girls—from job bans to education blackouts—vowing legal pushback with allies over CEDAW breaches. ‘Taliban failures deepen the suffering,’ she said.
Teaming with Anne Aly, the aid zeros in on females, delivering nutrition, medical aid, and security in public life exclusions. Since 2021, economic ruin and dry spells have spiked malnutrition; UNICEF flags 3.7 million child cases yearly, while WFP notes 90%+ families food-poor.
Afghanistan’s UNICEF chief urged action Tuesday at malnutrition guideline launches, per local reports. Australia’s move is pivotal—saving lives, easing pain, prioritizing the vulnerable. Yet, as Wong affirmed, commitment endures only with accountability, urging a unified global front.