KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that in 2025, 22.9 million people, including 12.4 million children, in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance.
In a report made public on Friday, December 6, UNICEF presents a bleak outlook for Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation, noting that the drivers of need have shifted from conflict to economic hardship, climate-induced shocks, and significant operational barriers.
“A combination of politics and policy has upended the lives of children and their families across Afghanistan,” UNICEF said, emphasizing that as the situation worsens, it is crucial for the agency to stay and deliver.
The UN agency noted that the Taliban’s restrictive policies affecting women and girls have profoundly impacted the country and its future, stressing that these restrictions lead to social and economic isolation, mental health issues, and negative coping strategies.
“Moreover, the operating environment has become more restrictive, with decrees and laws obstructing timely service delivery and creating barriers for specific sectors, agencies and implementation modalities,” part of the report reads.
To address the escalating crisis, the UN agency stated that it urgently needs $1.2 billion to provide humanitarian aid and basic support to 19 million people, including 10.3 million children across Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and the collapse of the previous government, the country’s humanitarian situation has significantly worsened, making it one of the world’s most severe crises. The collapse of the economy has left millions without access to basic necessities, with children being among the most vulnerable.
Earlier, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that nearly 15 million people, representing one-third of Afghanistan’s population, will need food assistance to survive the upcoming winter. The UN agency has appealed for $787 million to address the crisis and avert starvation during this period.
