Afghanistan Peace Campaign
The UN urges international donors to maintain critical support for Afghanistan, addressing urgent humanitarian needs amid a severe crisis.
The United Nations is urging international donors to maintain critical support for Afghanistan, a country facing the second-largest humanitarian crisis in the world. In 2025, approximately 22.9 million Afghans are in urgent need of assistance. The UN’s call for continued aid is highlighted ahead of the Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG) meetings in Istanbul, where representatives from Member States, International Financial Institutions, and UNAMA will discuss the country’s situation.
The UN stated in a statement on 7 April 2025, as the ACG meetings commenced, that Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, emphasized the importance of ongoing donor support. She highlighted that long-term resilience and stability for Afghanistan depend on the international community’s ability to address both immediate humanitarian needs and the underlying causes of vulnerability. The UN’s goal is to help the Afghan people break free from the cycle of poverty and suffering while focusing on sustainable solutions.
According to the statement, in 2024, the international community raised US$3.21 billion for Afghanistan’s humanitarian and basic needs programs. This generous funding enabled the UN and its partners to deliver essential life-saving assistance, sustain critical services, and enhance the resilience of vulnerable groups, especially women and girls. These contributions also helped achieve some positive results, including improved food security and moderate economic growth.
However, the global funding crisis threatens to undermine these hard-won gains. A decline in international support could undo progress made over the past four years, potentially triggering negative coping mechanisms among Afghans, such as irregular migration. This could lead to even greater instability in the region and further strain neighboring countries.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis calls for a united response, with both immediate aid and sustainable investments in the country’s future. The UN’s plea serves as a reminder that Afghanistan’s recovery is a shared responsibility that requires continued global attention and action. Without this support, the risks of further destabilization could increase.
Meanwhile, maintaining funding and support for Afghanistan is not only vital for the country’s recovery but also for the broader stability of the region. The international community must remain committed to helping Afghanistan overcome its challenges, providing hope and opportunities for its people to rebuild their lives.