New York: The United Nations has issued a stark warning over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, as critical funding shortages threaten the delivery of essential aid and services.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Joyce Msuya, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the dire situation facing millions of Afghans. She said decades of war, entrenched poverty, increasingly harsh climate conditions, and stringent restrictions on the rights of women and girls have created a complex and deepening emergency across the country.
Msuya revealed that more than 400 health facilities have been forced to shut down due to insufficient funding, cutting off vital healthcare for over 3 million people. Additionally, nearly 300 nutrition centers—crucial for combating widespread malnutrition—have also closed their doors.
“We are halfway through the year, yet the humanitarian response plan for Afghanistan remains less than 21 percent funded,” Msuya told the Council, emphasizing a staggering shortfall of $1.9 billion. “The needs in Afghanistan far exceed the resources currently available.”
She stressed that the funding crisis has had a particularly devastating impact on services for women, whose access to support has already been heavily restricted by the country’s political and social environment.
In a passionate appeal, Msuya urged the international community not to turn its back on the Afghan people. She called for urgent and increased financial support to sustain humanitarian operations and ensure that lifesaving assistance continues to reach those most in need.
