Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello urge the US government to act to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where more than 23 million people face what the United Nations calls “acute food insecurity.” and under starvation conditions.
The veteran rock artists have joined fellow musicians Grouplove, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Josh Klinghoffer and Painted Shield as well as Hollywood couple Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski in an open letter, in tandem with major humanitarian organisations. Their hope is to raise awareness of current conditions in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US military forces in August 2021 and the subsequent takeover of the country by the Taliban.
“Watching the situation in Afghanistan unfold over the past few months, we feel there is a moral urgency to do what we can,” said Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. Variety. “For us, it’s really about bringing more attention to what is happening and that governments can take action to prevent millions of people from starving. Our country has played an outsized role in Afghanistan for decades and we cannot look away now just because the military has officially withdrawn.
The letter is co-signed by non-governmental organizations such as Alliance for Peacebuilding, CARE USA, Catholic Relief Services, International Rescue Committee, InterAction, Norwegian Refugee Council USA, Save the Children USA, War Child USA and World Vision US.
According to the UN, more than 100,000 Afghan children could die of starvation without foreign aid, the delivery of which has been compromised due to the collapse of the country’s banking system. “As prices soar, Afghan families have no access to cash to pay for food, medicine or other basic items,” the letter said. “U.S. and world leaders must make it easier for Afghans to access banking services and find new ways to support the country’s essential services like hospitals, schools, and utilities.
“We cannot let the Afghan people become the victims of the world’s inaction,” he continued. “As winter sets in, tens of millions of lives are at stake. World leaders must do the right thing, before it’s too late.