KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The government of Japan has pledged a total of $6.08 million in new funding to support humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, as the country continues to face one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
In a post on X on Sunday, the Embassy of Japan in Kabul announced that it signed a $2.08 million contribution agreement with the World Bank to support vulnerable populations, including women and youth, and to improve livelihoods.
The funding will be delivered through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), a multi-donor trust fund managed by the World Bank that finances essential services and development programs in the country.
Separately, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced that Japan had provided $4 million to assist vulnerable families across Afghanistan. According to a post on X by WFP, the contribution will provide life-saving food assistance to nearly 80,000 people and vital nutrition support to 30,000 mothers and children. “This support helps save lives and stop hunger in its tracks,” WFP said.
Japan has consistently been one of the largest donors to Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Two weeks ago, the country contributed $6.3 million to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support polio eradication and routine immunization programs. Earlier this month, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a $10 million agreement with the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness across the country.
The new funding comes as Afghanistan remains heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Nearly half of the population continues to need aid, while international funding for humanitarian operations has declined in recent years. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that insufficient funding could critically undermine life-saving operations in the coming months.
Japan’s continued support underscores its role as a leading donor, providing targeted funding for health, nutrition, education, and livelihood programs designed to reach the country’s most vulnerable populations.
