UNICEF reports 23.7 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian aid

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that only 35 per cent of the required $1.4 billion in aid for children in Afghanistan has been secured, leaving millions of vulnerable children at risk.

According to a recent report by UNICEF, as many as 23.7 million people, including 12.3 million children, in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2024. The report highlights the dire situation in the country, with rising poverty attributed to long-standing conflicts, climate change, economic recession, and rising unemployment.

Since the beginning of 2024, there have been 14,570 suspected cases and 71 deaths from measles in Afghanistan, with over 11,000 of these patients being children under five years old. UNICEF has urged its humanitarian partners to prioritize the safety of female staff in Afghanistan.

The situation in Afghanistan has raised concerns among international organizations, with ‘Save the Children’ highlighting the challenges faced by 250,000 Afghan children returning from Pakistan who are experiencing food and shelter shortages.

The World Food Programme has been distributing food and cash to six million people every month in Afghanistan, but the UN estimates that about 15.8 million people in the country will face food insecurity crises and emergency levels.

To address the urgent needs of the Afghan population, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has requested a budget of $3.6 billion. The international community is called upon to step up and provide the necessary support to ensure the well-being of children and families in Afghanistan.