IOC President Thomas Bach had called for National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to assist in the evacuations of members of the sports community in Afghanistan, including working with their Governments to help secure humanitarian visas, at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly on Sunday (October 24).

Today, the organisation said it was aware that several of the individuals stranded in Afghanistan are being affected by a shortage of food and clothing as concerns grow internationally over a humanitarian crisis in the country.

It said it would "establish a humanitarian fund," with the Qatar Olympic Committee offering assistance in transporting and distributing aid.

Women and girls practising sport, people supporting them and promoting women's access to sport are deemed to be most threatened by the Taliban's rule.

The Taliban, an Islamist group that believes in Sharia law, formed a Government after its resurgence in Afghanistan in August and September following the withdrawal of American troops and the collapse of the Western-backed administration led by President Ashraf Ghani.

It prompted widespread fears over what its rule will mean for women's rights and women's sport, which it views as un-Islamic.

Prior to its removal from power in a United States-led operation, the Taliban imposed severe restrictions on women from 1996 to 2001.

A pinned tweet from the Afghan member of the IOC, Samira Asghari, highlights fears over the Taliban's approach to education for women.

"The Schools doors are closed to Afghan Women!" it reads.

"Severe Human Crisis in Afghanistan."

Thousands of people based in Afghanistan have tried to flee the new regime.

The IOC said it had worked with NOCs, International Federations, Asghari and the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, non-Governmental organisations and sports organisations to help evacuations.

This had allowed "more than 300 members of the Olympic Community" to escape Afghanistan, including its five athletes who appeared at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, two hopefuls for Beijing 2022, the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee President and secretary general, and several members of National Federations.

Football's governing body FIFA worked with the Qatari Government earlier this month to evacuate "almost 100 members of the football family from Afghanistan, including female players," while more than 100 members of the country's women's junior football team and their families were able to flee to neighbouring Pakistan in September.

Australia's historic Test match against Afghanistan at the end of November is expected to be postponed in protest against the Taliban's views on women's cricket, although the country is competing at Men's T20 World Cup.

The IOC director of NOC Relations and Olympic Solidarity James Macleod claimed in a report to the ANOC General Assembly that efforts to evacuate members of the sports community from Afghanistan had shown "the extraordinary spirit of solidarity demonstrated by the Olympic Community."

He also vowed that the IOC would seek to evacuate as many people fearing for their safety as possible, while providing support for the sport careers of individuals for those who remain in Afghanistan and those who are now based elsewhere.

This includes scholarships and training grants from Olympic Solidarity for Afghanistan's Olympians and Winter Olympic hopefuls.

However, Afghanistan's Chef de Mission at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Arian Sadiqi, has expressed fears for the 12 Para athletes who have been unable to escape.

"If these girls don’t get help soon, they may fall into the hands of the Taliban and may get killed," he said.

Sadiqi had earlier criticised "the international community, especially the APC [Asian Paralympic Committee], IPC [International Paralympic Committee] and IOC and rest of the sports organisations" for their lack of support in evacuating Afghanistan's Para athletes.