FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

January 11th, 2022

CONTACT

Nick Zuroski | (202) 822-2047 | nick@allianceforpeacebuilding.org

Washington, D.C., USA. – Pearl Jam and Tom Morello are advocating alongside a coalition of global humanitarian leaders and artists to urge the White House to address Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian crisis, which cannot be solved by aid alone.

Pearl Jam rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard shared, “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. 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.”

The campaign, which includes other notable names like Amanda Seyfried, Thomas Sadoski, Global Citizen, and Josh Klinghoffer, is asking for the U.S. and global leaders to address the economic drivers of the hunger crisis by facilitating banking access for Afghans, and finding new ways to support the country’s critical services like hospitals, schools, and utilities. The nine global charities include: 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 U.S.

As detailed in a joint statement issued by the nine humanitarian and peacebuilding organizations, more than half the country’s population of 23 million people are facing acute food insecurity, including nine million who are on the brink of famine. According to the United Nations, if no action is taken, more than 100,000 children could die of starvation. While prices skyrocket, Afghan families cannot access cash to pay for food, medicine, or other items.

“A humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan is no longer looming—it is already here,” said Liz Hume, Executive Director of the Alliance for Peacebuilding—the leading nonpartisan global network of 150+ members working in 181 countries to end violent conflict and build sustainable peace. “This crisis is having a disproportionate impact on Afghan women and girls—the very women and girls the U.S. and its partners swore to protect from the outset of the 2001 intervention. The U.S. and international community must act urgently to prevent the devastating loss of life and suffering of the Afghan people already grappling with Taliban rule, economic collapse, COVID, conflict, and the impacts of climate change.”

“Humanitarian aid organizations and local partners are committed to delivering lifesaving relief during a profound time of need for the Afghan people,” said Sam Worthington, President of InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based non-governmental organizations in the world. “InterAction members are witnessing firsthand the devastating impacts of the current humanitarian emergency. We are seeing that under a frozen financial system, looming economic crisis, and Taliban rule, many families will not survive the winter.”

The Vitalogy Foundation is a 501c3 organization founded by Pearl Jam to translate the ethos of their music into tangible positive impacts. Learn more at www.pearljam.com/vitalogy

InterAction is a convener, thought leader, and voice for international nongovernmental organizations (NGO) working to eliminate extreme poverty, strengthen human rights and citizen participation, safeguard a sustainable planet, promote peace, and ensure dignity for all people.

The Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP)—named the “number one influencer and change agent” among peacebuilding institutions worldwide—is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit, nonpartisan network of 150+ organizations working in 181 countries to prevent conflict, reduce violence, improve lives, and build sustainable peace. At our core, AfP cultivates a network to strengthen and advance the peacebuilding field, enabling peacebuilding organizations to achieve greater impact—tackling issues too large for any one organization to address alone.

Journalists & editors:

For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact Morgan Martinez mmartinez@interaction.org at InterAction or Emily Benson emily@vitalogyfoundation.org at Vitalogy Foundation.

In cooperation with:

CARE USA
Catholic Relief Services
InterAction
International Rescue Committee
Norwegian Refugee Council USA
Save the Children US
War Child USA
World Vision US