KABUL — More than 12 million children in Afghanistan are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, making up over half of the 22.9 million people identified as vulnerable in 2025, according to a new report by the United Nations Children’s Fund.
UNICEF said Afghanistan is experiencing the world’s second-largest humanitarian crisis, driven by widespread poverty, conflict-related displacement, natural disasters, and mounting restrictions on women and girls under Taliban rule.
“Seasonal and climate-related shocks, natural disasters, and increasingly severe restrictions on women and girls have exacerbated humanitarian needs across Afghanistan, intensifying already precarious living conditions,” the report states.
UNICEF raised concerns that these restrictions — including the ongoing nationwide ban on secondary education for girls — are directly worsening the humanitarian situation. The agency confirmed that no secondary schools are currently open to girls in Afghanistan.
The report also highlights the return of nearly 1 million Afghans from Pakistan in recent months, two-thirds of whom are children. The influx has added pressure to an already strained system. Of the returnees, 61 percent are under 18, and many are arriving without legal documentation, increasing their vulnerability.
The crisis spans multiple sectors. In April alone, more than 5.8 million people accessed health care through UNICEF-supported facilities, including over 1.5 million children. Over 1 million children were screened for acute malnutrition, with more than 43,000 referred for treatment.
UNICEF also reported a sharp rise in measles cases, with nearly 48,000 suspected infections and more than 300 deaths since the beginning of the year — the majority involving children under five.
Despite a modest 2.7 percent GDP growth in 2023–24, the Afghan economy remains fragile. UNICEF warned that deteriorating public services, lack of employment, and climate shocks are compounding the crisis.
The agency’s $1.2 billion appeal for Afghanistan in 2025 remains only 50 percent funded as of April. Nearly $600 million is still needed to sustain life-saving operations.
“Afghanistan’s children are facing one of the world’s most complex and underfunded emergencies,” the report concluded, urging continued donor support to prevent worsening malnutrition, disease, and child protection risks.
