KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The government of Italy has announced a €4.5 million contribution to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund 2024, aimed at supporting UN agencies in Afghanistan in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Embassy of Italy to Afghanistan announced the contribution, stating that it will support UNOCHA and other UN agencies in Afghanistan in delivering a swift and effective response to humanitarian emergencies.
Last week, the Italian government pledged €3.5 million to support the International Organization for Migration (IOM) programs, helping vulnerable Afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan, as well as internally displaced people.
The Italian contributions come at a critical time, as Afghanistan faces an escalating humanitarian crisis compounded by a shortage of international aid. Since the Taliban’s takeover, conditions have significantly worsened, making Afghanistan one of the world’s most pressing crises.
In 2024, according to the UN, nearly 24 million people, more than half of Afghanistan’s population, needed humanitarian aid, including 12.4 million children.
The World Food Programme (WFP) reported earlier that at least 15 million people in Afghanistan, or one in every three, are uncertain about where their next meal will come from. The agency has recently appealed for $787 million to prevent starvation among Afghans during the winter.
Malnutrition rates are rising at an alarming rate. WFP estimates that around 3.5 million children under the age of five and 1.15 million pregnant and breastfeeding women will experience acute malnutrition in 2025, marking a 28% increase compared to 2024.
The humanitarian response, however, has faced a significant funding gap in recent years. The UN’s $3.06 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan remains critically underfunded, with only 37.5% of the required funds secured as of November. Humanitarian agencies have warned that without adequate resources, they will be unable to address the growing needs of Afghan communities.
