Humanitarian situation

Afghanistan continues to face one of the world's most severe and protracted humanitarian crises.  Prolonged drought, decades of conflict, COVID-19, and the recent political and economic crises have exacerbated the humanitarian need.

The UN estimates 23.7 million people, more than half of Afghanistan's population, will require humanitarian assistance in 2024 – triple the number since 2021. This includes over 12 million children^[1].

Australia's humanitarian assistance

Since 2001, Australia has provided around $1.8 billion in development and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

2024-25 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$50.0 million

2024-25 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$50.0 million

2023-24 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$50.0 million

2023-24 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$50.0 million

2022-23 total Australian ODA [actual]

$50.1 million

Since 2021, Australia has provided $213 million in humanitarian and basic needs assistance to the people of Afghanistan. This includes:

• $173 million to meet immediate humanitarian and basic services needs in Afghanistan
• $40 million to support internally displaced people in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries hosting Afghan refugees.

Partners

Most of our assistance has been delivered through our UN partners including the World Food Programme (WFP), the Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

These partners have demonstrated experience in accessing affected populations and negotiating with the Taliban regime.

This approach is consistent with DFAT's publicly available Regional Humanitarian Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan 2021-2024

Focus

Recognising that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by conflict and insecurity, they are a priority focus of the Australian Government's humanitarian assistance.  In 2024-25:

WFP is supporting children, pregnant and lactating women at risk of acute malnutrition, has developed specialised asset creation and vocation skills programs for women, and has adapted WFP sites to ensure spaces are designed for women's participation

UNFPA is delivering services in sexual and reproductive health, psychosocial counselling and protection.

The Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund includes implementing projects which support women and girls, such as cash assistance, emergency health supplies and distribution of winterisation and dignity kits.