Over 22 million in Afghanistan to need aid by 2025: OCHA

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for Afghanistan has reported that 22.9 million people in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance in 2025.

In a report released on Wednesday, December 18, OCHA highlighted that millions of Afghans, particularly women, face severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban.

According to the report, these restrictions have jeopardized the safety of Afghan citizens, especially minorities, leaving them vulnerable to discrimination and harm.

The report further revealed that out of the 22.9 million people in need, 21 million lack access to adequate healthcare and safe drinking water.

Additionally, 14.8 million people are facing severe food insecurity, while 7.8 million women and children urgently require nutritional support.

OCHA also warned of an impending drought crisis that is expected to threaten Afghanistan in early 2025, further exacerbating the humanitarian challenges.

The organization stated that humanitarian actors can only provide aid to 16 million of the 22.9 million people in need by 2025 due to funding constraints.

This follows a similar trend in 2024, where humanitarian efforts were underfunded, assisting only 15 million out of the 23 million people in need.

More than three years after the Taliban’s return to power, the economic and social conditions in Afghanistan continue to deteriorate, leaving citizens increasingly impoverished. The international community must urgently address the funding gaps to prevent further suffering and stabilize the situation.

Long-term solutions, including investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and women’s empowerment, are essential to breaking the cycle of dependency on aid. Without such measures, Afghanistan risks facing an unending humanitarian crisis that could have dire regional and global consequences.

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