If the world doesn’t act, more than 100,000 Afghan children could die this year. 

Four months after the shift in power in Afghanistan, the country is facing a humanitarian crisis that is impacting nearly the entire population. Sanctions against the Taliban have sent the economy spiraling downward: Afghan families cannot access cash to pay for food, medicine or other basic items. Nine million people are on the brink of famine. 

Fortunately, there is something we can do. 

#AfghansCantWait

Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation and musician Tom Morello are joining other artists and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), along with eight other aid groups, to call on the United States and global leaders to take urgent action for Afghans. 

While the IRC and other humanitarian organizations are delivering vital aid, this alone won’t end the emergency in Afghanistan. The U.S. government has the power to address the economic drivers of the crisis. In a letter to U.S. and global leaders, Pearl Jam and the aid groups urge the U.S. to take two critical steps: 

1. Address the collapse of Afghanistan’s banking system so Afghans can access desperately needed cash.

2. Find new ways to support hospitals, schools, utilities and other essential services in Afghanistan. 

"We have all witnessed how difficult it has been to wind down U.S. involvement in Afghanistan but we can't turn a blind eye now to the millions of families who are bearing the consequences," said Pearl Jam rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard. "We have an obligation to support the Afghan people and to ensure our actions don’t make it even harder for them to access food and basic necessities."

Take action 

As winter sets in, tens of millions of lives hang in the balance. In the U.S., you can help by contacting the White House today to ask President Biden to take action to prevent catastrophe in Afghanistan

Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan were already some of the largest in the world, and now the situation is rapidly worsening by nearly every measure. U.S. leadership is urgently needed. 

Learn more

The IRC has been working in Afghanistan for over three decades, providing education, protection, water and sanitation, and economic recovery programs. Learn more about the crisis and our work: 

Afghanistan was number one in our annual Watchlist of countries most likely to face a humanitarian crisis in the coming year. Explore the full list.  

Learn more about the country’s devastating hunger crisis. 

Meet two Afghan mothers as they prepare for a potentially disastrous winter. 

Read the stories of just a few of the many Afghans who faced this year with resilience and generosity.