United Nations: Afghanistan Faces the Worst Humanitarian Crisis

Babar Baloch, the spokesperson for UNHCR, said on Friday (July 19) that $23.7 million is needed this year to respond to the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.

According to UNHCR, since the beginning of this year, 33 provinces in Afghanistan have experienced natural disasters, increasing the number of people in need of humanitarian aid. Baloch added that according to estimates from UN agencies, at least 145,000 people across Afghanistan have been affected by natural disasters.

He added, "Afghanistan needs continuous attention and support from the international community. The UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies in the country are severely underfunded."

Referring to the recent storms and floods in eastern Afghanistan, he said that 40 people have died and 340 others have been injured in these events. He mentioned that the death toll from these natural disasters could rise in the provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kunar.

The UNHCR spokesperson also mentioned that in May this year alone, more than 683 people in the north, northeast, and west of Afghanistan were killed or injured due to floods, and thousands were displaced from their main areas.

The UNHCR emphasized that it is currently working to meet the needs of the affected people, especially the flood victims in eastern Afghanistan, and its staff continues their efforts in this regard.

Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan are increasing while aid agencies, including UN agencies, are already facing budget shortages to implement relief programs in the country.

Recently, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said that the United Nations has so far received close to $720 million, which is less than a quarter of what is needed. The United Nations had requested $3.1 billion to implement aid programs for the needy in Afghanistan for the year 2024.