WHAT IS THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN?

August marks one year since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. Decades of conflict have left the country on the brink of collapse, with disastrous consequences for children.

Afghanistan is facing multiple crises, including four years of prolonged conflict, a collapsing economy, rampant disease outbreaks, chronic poverty and the worst drought in nearly 40 years.

All of these have collided to create an unprecedented humanitarian emergency.

In the aftermath of the June 2022 earthquake, over 13 million children across Afghanistan urgently need humanitarian assistance to survive. Without urgent action, over one million children under 5 could become severely malnourished.

This is on top of the devastation that children and their families in Afghanistan were already facing:

  • Measles outbreak with over 62,000 cases reported, including 354 deaths
  • Malnutrition that has affected over 90% of the entire population
  • The displacement of over 34,400 people (over half are children) due to conflict
  • Violence against children, affecting nearly 550 girls and boys

Afghanistan is experiencing one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world for children. Please Donate Now.

UNICEF REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO REACH VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH URGENT, LIFE-SAVING SERVICES.

How Is Unicef Responding To The Crisis In Afghanistan?

First and foremost, we are staying.

We’ve been in Afghanistan for more than 70 years. In that time, we’ve nurtured community networks and built trust in order to reach children with essential services, and we have become experienced at delivering life-saving supplies in difficult circumstances. Our work for children and families in every region of the country continues even in the face of the escalating crisis.

After the devastating earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan in June, killing over a thousand people and leaving many more injured, our teams worked around the clock to provide vital aid in the wake of the disaster.  

The very future of the country’s children is at stake, and we need your help.

HOW YOUR DONATION WILL HELP AFGHANISTAN

In 2022, we aim to reach 15 million people, including 8 million children, with humanitarian assistance, including:

  • Treating children suffering from severe acute malnutrition
  • Vaccinating children against measles
  • Providing safe water and sanitation supplies
  • Helping children resume their learning
  • Using cash transfers to meet the basic needs of women and children
  • Supporting frontline workers such as teachers and health care providers

"Despite all the unanswered questions that lie ahead, one thing is certain: UNICEF is here to stay and deliver for every child and every woman in Afghanistan. UNICEF has been here for 70 years and we’re not leaving."

UNICEF Afghanistan Representative Hervé Ludovic De Lys