More than half of Afghanistan’s population, around 23 million people, urgently need humanitarian support as the country faces a deepening crisis. Acute malnutrition is widespread, with over 3.5 million children under the age of five and more than a million pregnant women affected. The situation has been further strained by the return of many Afghans from Iran and Pakistan, placing additional pressure on already limited resources.
In response, the German Government has announced an additional €5.8 million in funding through its Federal Foreign Office and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. This support, provided in addition to existing contributions, will be channeled through the World Food Programme, other UN agencies, and humanitarian NGOs. Importantly, the funding will bypass the de facto Taliban government to ensure that assistance directly reaches the Afghan people in need.
The new aid package will be directed toward food provision and life-saving basic healthcare. Special attention will be given to returnees and communities in border regions, who are among the hardest hit by the crisis. Women and children, who are disproportionately affected, remain the main focus of this support.
Germany has reiterated its commitment to addressing Afghanistan’s humanitarian emergency but also emphasized the responsibility of the de facto Taliban government to improve living conditions. This includes ensuring food security, granting access to basic services, lifting restrictions on women’s movement and employment, and refraining from interfering in the impartial distribution of aid so that all vulnerable groups can access life-saving assistance.
