In early May 2024, devastating floods in northeastern Afghanistan have claimed hundreds of lives and wiped out several villages, leaving thousands of survivors without shelter, food, clothing, or basic necessities. Prior to this flooding episode, 30,055 people had been affected by floods across the country, mainly in the southern and western regions. This flooding comes at a time when Afghanistan continues to grapple with the consequences of decades of conflict, entrenched poverty, climate-induced crises, and barriers to women’s equality and participation in public life.
An unprecedented humanitarian response has largely prevented a catastrophe in the past two years, yet a staggering 23.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 12.3 million of them children. Nearly 3 million children are experiencing acute levels of food insecurity. In addition, Afghan children and their communities are more susceptible to epidemic-prone diseases such as acute watery diarrhea (AWD) with dehydration. So far, there have been 155,383 cases of AWD with dehydration and 77 associated deaths. The level of deprivation among Afghan households remains high, with 84% of Afghans unable to meet their basic needs. Women and girls experience the worst effects of this crisis, through restrictions on their education, movement, employment and access to public services.
Despite the immense challenges in Afghanistan, UNICEF continues to deliver for children. UNICEF Emergency Response Teams are on the ground supporting ongoing immediate interventions in the affected areas. So far this year, UNICEF has:
- Vaccinated 1.1 million children under 1 against measles, including during outbreaks
- Gave 9.4 million children aged 6-59 months vitamin A supplements
- Provided mental health and psychosocial support to 3.5 million children and caregivers
- Reached 564,500 vulnerable school-aged children with community-based education initiatives
- Gave cash assistance to 20,759 households to help meet winter needs
With your help, UNICEF will continue to support children and their families across Afghanistan.
