Australia is ramping up its response to Afghanistan’s deepening humanitarian nightmare with Foreign Minister Penny Wong unveiling AU$50 million in fresh funding. Delivered via UN channels, the aid targets the 22 million Afghans facing hunger, disease, and despair under Taliban control.

In a pointed X post, Wong decried the regime’s gender apartheid, where women and girls are barred from jobs, schools, medical care, and public spaces—a direct breach of CEDAW. ‘We’re pursuing accountability with global allies through legal measures,’ she affirmed, signaling unwavering resolve.

Partnering with Minister Anne Aly, the initiative focuses on vulnerable women and girls, providing essentials like nutrition, health services, and safety nets. The crisis, intensified by Taliban mismanagement, economic freefall since 2021, and drought, has left 90% of families food-insecure, warns the WFP.

UNICEF’s stark warning adds urgency: 3.7 million children suffer severe acute malnutrition yearly, with long-term developmental scars looming. Afghanistan’s rep Tajudeen Oyewale launched guidelines Tuesday to combat this, but aid gaps persist.

Wong vowed Australia’s full backing for Afghans, especially women, stressing that this aid will bridge immediate gaps while the world holds the Taliban to account. It’s a critical step, yet experts say only broader sanctions and diplomacy can foster lasting change.