OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has announced that 48% of the people in Afghanistan live below the poverty line, and over 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
In a published report, the organization stated that the restrictive policies of the interim government have hindered women’s and girls’ access to aid.
The report indicates that by 2025, approximately 5.7 million women, 12 million children, 5 million elderly individuals, and 3 million persons with disabilities in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, years of conflict and widespread poverty in the country have been accompanied by high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, prolonged displacement, widespread contamination from unexploded ordnance, and the outbreak of communicable diseases.
The report highlights that 14.8 million people are facing food insecurity, and more than 3 million individuals live near areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance.
Additionally, UNAMA stated in a note on its Facebook account following the release of this report: “These figures are not just numbers. Our inability to mobilize adequate and timely funding will have devastating consequences.”
According to the report, the United Nations has requested over $2.4 billion for humanitarian assistance in 2025, but only 12% of this funding has been secured so far.
OCHA emphasized that since the current government’s takeover of Afghanistan, extensive restrictive policies against the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls have been implemented, limiting their access to aid and services and reducing their participation in public life.
