UNICEF Says Funding Shortfall Is Worsening Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis remained one of the world’s largest in the first half of 2026, and that a severe funding shortfall has limited the reach of aid to those in need.
According to UNICEF, about 21 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance, a large number of them children. The agency said $1.71 billion had been requested to meet these needs.
According to the report, only $293 million of the required funding had been secured by June, leaving a further $1.42 billion still unfunded. UNICEF warned that this funding gap has reduced the capacity of relief agencies.
UNICEF added that, due to limited resources, humanitarian agencies have cut back some of their activities and are focusing more on urgent, life-saving aid. This situation could further restrict many needy people’s access to essential services and support.
According to the agency, poverty, food insecurity, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and population displacement are the main factors driving the spread of humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. UNICEF is one of the United Nations agencies working on child protection and humanitarian services in vulnerable countries.
