Former defence, national security and foreign policy experts lay out five outcomes that the international community should be working towards to avert an irreversible humanitarian disaster.

When international forces left Afghanistan so abruptly over the summer, we knew the risks of humanitarian catastrophe. Sadly, we are now seeing the consequences. The speed with which humanitarian indicators are plummeting is dramatic, even compared with other serious global crises. The freezing of state assets and the cut in international funding for health and education risk tipping the country into famine: not seen before in Afghanistan’s 40 years of conflict. Economic collapse will cause death and suffering, and increase terrorism and migration.

• The international community to meet the UN’s appeal for humanitarian funding and accelerate payment of money promised.
• The preservation of state delivery systems, including salary payments for civil servants delivering essential public services.
• The resumption of technical support to the central bank to prevent economic collapse and pursue the managed and limited release of the Afghan people’s foreign exchange reserves.
• The reinstatement of the Afghan reconstruction trust fund, a trusted mechanism for structured and accountable disbursement of international donor development funds. Projects must be scrutinised and adjusted to ensure no direct benefit accrues to the Taliban.
• The release of some of the frozen Afghan foreign reserves so that salaries of essential workers can be paid directly by third parties and key social services be maintained.