UN OCHA warns funding shortage could disrupt humanitarian operations in Afghanistan
In Kabul today, the United Nations warned that a funding gap could stop life‑saving help in Afghanistan by the end of the year. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that if donors do not step in, millions could lose food aid, clean water access, schools and basic health services. The warning comes just before the cold winter months when people need help the most.
UN agencies and international relief groups have repeatedly highlighted that Afghanistan’s aid lifeline is under extreme pressure. Donations from the international community have fallen, while the needs on the ground keep growing. A short break in funding could mean more families without food, medicine or water.
Humanitarian analysts say the crisis could worsen if the global community does not pledge enough money. Vulnerable families risk losing every bit of support as food insecurity spreads across the country. The UN urges donors to act quickly—any delay could spark a larger humanitarian emergency in the coming months.
In addition to the funding scare, the UN reports that about 90 percent of Afghan families face severe food shortages. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) found that nine out of ten families have cut their meals or sold possessions to survive. This strain is worsened by the return of nearly 2.3 million Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan, pushing resources even thinner.
The UNDP’s latest survey, released on November 13, covered nearly 49,000 families, including more than 1,500 refugees. UNDP’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja, warned that limits on women’s participation in humanitarian and reconstruction projects are cutting off essential services for many.
Aspiring donors and governments worldwide face a clear choice: step up funding now or watch a growing crisis spiral. The message from UN agencies is urgent—support today, or risk a humanitarian disaster next year.
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