KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Norway has contributed 15 million Norwegian kroner ($1.63 million) to the United Nations-run Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund to support life-saving aid programs across the country, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced.
In a post on X on Monday, OCHA thanked Norway for the donation, saying it helps sustain the humanitarian response for people in need. “Your generous contributions support a stronger humanitarian response in Afghanistan,” the agency said.
The Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) was established by the UN in 2014 and is managed by OCHA. It provides funding for humanitarian organizations responding to urgent needs and is intended to allow aid agencies to respond quickly to emerging crises and support priority humanitarian activities.
Norway’s contribution comes as Afghanistan continues to face a major humanitarian crisis, with millions of people struggling to meet basic needs amid persistent economic hardship, recurring natural disasters, reduced international assistance and the return of large numbers of Afghans from neighboring countries.
Nearly 22 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance this year, according to the UN, with women and children among the most vulnerable. UN agencies estimate that nearly 5 million women and children suffer from acute malnutrition across the country.
Humanitarian agencies face a major funding shortfall. The UN has appealed for $1.71 billion to meet urgent needs this year, but only about 30% of the required amount has been secured so far, OCHA said. Aid agencies have called for sustained international funding, warning that shortages are limiting the delivery of food, shelter, healthcare and other essential services to millions of vulnerable Afghans.
