UN Report Warns 11.6 Million Children in Afghanistan Need Urgent Aid

UN Report Warns 11.6 Million Children in Afghanistan Need Urgent Aid
————————————–
The UNICEF has warned that Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is worsening, with millions of children facing severe living conditions amid economic hardship and declining basic services.

In a new report, the agency said approximately 21.9 million people—nearly half the population—will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. Among them, more than 11.6 million children are in urgent need of aid, highlighting the scale of the crisis affecting the country’s most vulnerable groups.

The report identified children and women, particularly pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as among those most severely impacted. It cautioned that insufficient support could further deteriorate child health, nutrition levels, and access to education.

UNICEF attributed the crisis to a combination of factors, including widespread poverty, food insecurity, climate change impacts, and social restrictions, all of which have significantly weakened living conditions.

Access to safe drinking water remains a major challenge in many regions despite ongoing infrastructure efforts, the report added.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has also warned of rising malnutrition rates, with millions at risk of hunger.

UNICEF urged the international community to increase financial and humanitarian support to sustain essential services and protect children’s futures.