UNICEF says 18.9 million people accessed health services in Afghanistan

UNICEF has announced that in the first six months of 2026, more than 18.9 million people across Afghanistan accessed essential health services through centres supported by the agency.

In a report on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation released on Monday, 26 Asad, UNICEF said these services were provided in all 34 provinces of the country.

According to the report, during the same period, 6.8 million children were screened for malnutrition, and treatment services were provided for 363,810 children suffering from malnutrition.

In the education sector as well, 55,937 vulnerable children, including returnee children and those out of school, received educational services. UNICEF said 67% of these children were girls.

UNICEF also said its cash transfer programme for mothers and children reached 65,162 families, and a total of 576,279 people benefited from it.

UNICEF is one of the UN’s main child protection agencies, and in Afghanistan it delivers part of its health, nutrition and education services through humanitarian programmes at the provincial level.