UNICEF Seeks $949 Million for Humanitarian Aid to Afghan Children in 2026
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced it will require $949.1 million for its humanitarian programs in Afghanistan in 2026. The funding aims to assist around 12 million people, including approximately 6.5 million children.
In a statement released on Tuesday, December 15, UNICEF emphasized that securing these resources is essential to ensuring children’s rights to survival, development, and access to vital basic services—many of which have been severely affected by successive humanitarian crises and widespread restrictions in recent years.
According to the statement, if the funding is secured, UNICEF will be able to provide life-saving assistance, essential health and protection services to children and other vulnerable groups. The support will address urgent humanitarian needs and help strengthen the resilience of local communities.
UNICEF also warned that in the coming year, 21.9 million people in Afghanistan, including 11.6 million children, will need humanitarian assistance. The agency has previously stressed that the policies and restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration—especially in the areas of women’s education and employment—have created serious challenges for effectively delivering aid to children and families.
