Afghans still in need of aid as funding shortages persist

Kabul (ANTARA) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan reported that 21.9 million Afghans require humanitarian assistance across various sectors in the first three months of this year, according to local media TOLOnews on Sunday, 24 May. According to the report, despite the organisation’s plan to assist 17.5 million people, it has only reached 4.7 million, representing approximately 27 per cent of the target population. The agency added that US$1.7 billion (US$1 = IDR 17,726) is required to address humanitarian needs nationwide. However, only US$195 million, or around 11 per cent of the required funds, has been secured to date. The report further stated that children account for 49 per cent of total aid recipients, with women representing 30 per cent and men making up the remaining 21 per cent. Funding shortages continue to pose major challenges for humanitarian operations, limiting efforts to support millions of vulnerable Afghans across the country.