The United Nations has allocated a record $16.6 million to help communities in northern and northeastern Afghanistan brace for worsening drought conditions, UN spokesman announced on Thursday.
“This new financing is both the first and the largest joint allocation in support of anticipatory action against drought in Afghanistan,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. The amount includes $6.6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and $10 million from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.
According to Dujarric, the funds will support cash and in-kind assistance targeting food security, agriculture and livestock, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, nutrition, and protection—delivered before the drought peaks in the coming months.
Dujarric emphasized the urgency of the situation. “With the right science and data, we can deliver faster, protect more people, and stretch scarce resources further—especially at a time when devastating funding cuts are deepening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis,” he said.
The announcement came as UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, concluded a visit to Afghanistan. In Kabul, Fletcher met with humanitarian partners including NGOs, women-led organizations, and representatives of civil society groups.
In a parallel development, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a quarterly report on the human rights situation in the country. The update, covering January to March 2025, pointed to continued violations, particularly against women and girls.
“The mission continued to receive reports that women in Afghanistan are still denied the right to join the workforce, to access services without a male relative, and that girls remain deprived of their right to education,” Dujarric said.
The dual developments—ongoing human rights concerns and increasing humanitarian needs—underscore the compounding crises Afghanistan faces amid shrinking international assistance.
