The UN children’s agency, UNIECEF, has appealed for $949.1 million to support children and vulnerable people in Afghanistan next year, warning that the humanitarian crisis is deepening.
In a statement resealed on Tuesday (December 16), UNICEF said the funding is needed to reach 12 million people, including 6.5 million children, in 2026. The agency said the money would help ensure that every child in Afghanistan has a chance to survive and develop.
UNICEF said the funds would be used to deliver life-saving assistance and essential services, address urgent humanitarian needs, and strengthen community resilience.
The agency warned that humanitarian needs are expected to rise further, with 21.9 million people, including 11.6 million children, likely to require assistance next year.
It said the protection crisis facing children in Afghanistan is worsening, with women of reproductive age, children, young people and marginalized groups exposed to increasing risks.
UNICEF also said women and girls are facing a systematic crisis of rights, with bans on education and work, alongside sweeping restrictions on daily life, heightening protection risks and undermining long-term resilience.
The statement added that chronic under-investment in water, sanitation and hygiene – compounded by relentless climate shocks – has intensified humanitarian needs and weakened community resilience.
“As conditions worsen, UNICEF’s continued presence is vital to deliver essential services and safeguard the most vulnerable,” the agency said.
Earlier, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, said that 21.9 million people in Afghanistan are expected to need humanitarian assistance next year. OCHA said aid agencies have prioritized 17.5 million people, for which they are seeking $1.72bn in funding.
