Japan has contributed $6.3 million to support polio eradication efforts and routine immunization in Afghanistan, the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) said.
The funding, provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will support a 12-month program aimed at vaccinating more than 12 million children under the age of five in 23 provinces, UNICEF said in a statement. The program will also strengthen routine immunization services across all 34 provinces.
Afghanistan is one of only two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic.
UNICEF said that although cases of wild poliovirus declined from 25 in 2024 to 10 as of December 2025, the risk of transmission persists, and any disruption to vaccination campaigns could leave children vulnerable.
The agency added that overlapping humanitarian pressures – including earthquakes in August 2025 that damaged health facilities and the return of millions of people to the country – have increased the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio, measles and whooping cough.
Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan Kenichi Masamoto said Japan remained committed to supporting polio eradication efforts.
“The Government and people of Japan remain committed to supporting polio eradication in Afghanistan,” he said. “Sustaining vaccine supply at this critical stage is essential to protect hard-won gains and ensure that every child has access to immunization.”
Sota Tosaka, JICA’s senior representative in Afghanistan, said the agency has supported the country’s health sector since 1974 and has worked closely with UNICEF for more than two decades to strengthen immunization systems and cold chain infrastructure.
Andrea James, UNICEF’s deputy representative in Afghanistan, said ending polio in the country was achievable, but only if vaccination efforts continued without interruption and reached all children, particularly in remote areas.
Japan has been a key partner of UNICEF in Afghanistan for more than 20 years, supporting immunization campaigns, vaccine procurement and the strengthening of health systems.
