The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The Netherlands has contributed 16 million euros, or about $18.29 million, to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, the U.N. humanitarian office in Afghanistan said, as millions of Afghans continue to require assistance amid a worsening funding crisis.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, thanked the Netherlands for the contribution, saying the funding would help support life-saving assistance for people in need across Afghanistan.
The contribution comes as an estimated 21.9 million people, about 45% of Afghanistan's population, are projected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026, according to the United Nations' humanitarian needs plan. (OCHA)
Afghanistan is also facing a deepening nutrition crisis. Recent U.N. assessments have projected that about 3.7 million children could suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026, alongside 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Funding shortages have also affected access to health care. Aid cuts have forced the closure of nearly 600 health facilities in Afghanistan, according to a recent report, leaving vulnerable communities with reduced access to medical and nutrition services. (ReliefWeb)
OCHA said the Netherlands' contribution would help sustain humanitarian assistance at a time when international funding for Afghanistan remains under severe pressure.
The Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund is used to support humanitarian organizations responding to urgent needs across the country.
