Only 16% of Afghanistan Aid Budget Secured Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that by the end of last month, only 269 million dollars of the total 1.71 billion dollars needed to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan had been secured, representing just 16 percent of this year’s total funding requirement.

OCHA warned that the increasing funding gap poses a serious threat to life-saving programs across Afghanistan. In a message posted on the social media platform X, the agency emphasized that without immediate financial resources, millions of people in the country will be deprived of critical aid.

This warning comes as Afghanistan continues to grapple with a widespread economic and humanitarian crisis. The Taliban’s extensive restrictions, declining job opportunities, and international isolation have made the livelihoods of families increasingly precarious, heightening the population’s reliance on foreign assistance.

Last month, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported that poverty is expanding in Afghanistan, with nearly 28 million people projected to be unable to meet their basic needs in 2025. The UNDP also noted that international aid to Afghanistan is expected to decrease by about 16.5 percent in 2025.

According to the report, the funding shortfall has led to the closure or limitation of services in over 440 health centers nationwide. Furthermore, the percentage of people without access to healthcare is projected to rise from 16 percent in 2024 to 23 percent in 2025, raising serious concerns about the future of public health in Afghanistan.