UNAMA: Nearly 23 Million Afghans in Need of Humanitarian Assistance
Tawazon– The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has urged donor countries and international partners to continue their essential support for the people of Afghanistan in 2025.
In a statement issued on April 7, UNAMA said this appeal will be formally presented at the upcoming Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG) meeting to be held in Istanbul, Türkiye. The mission stated that approximately 22.9 million people in Afghanistan are currently in need of humanitarian assistance.
To address these critical needs, UNAMA plans to bring together donor countries, international financial institutions, and United Nations agencies during the Istanbul meeting.
Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Humanitarian Coordinator for the country, emphasized the importance of sustained support. She said helping the Afghan people escape the cycle of poverty requires maintaining the resources and mechanisms to meet their immediate needs while working toward long-term stability.
Otunbayeva also acknowledged the challenges in delivering humanitarian aid and said the international response must shift from short-term emergency aid to long-term, sustainable solutions. She added that ensuring continued support is vital not only for Afghanistan but also for regional and global stability.
UNAMA highlighted that in 2024, humanitarian partners mobilized 3.21 billion dollars in aid for Afghanistan, an increase from the previous year. However, the mission warned that declining international assistance could reverse progress made in areas such as food security and economic stability.
The agency further cautioned that a reduction in aid could force many Afghans to resort to harmful coping strategies, including irregular migration, in search of safety and livelihoods.
