The European Union will provide €161mn in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and its neighboring countries in 2025, as the humanitarian crisis in the region remains one of the most severe globally.
Of the total amount, more than €141mn will be allocated to humanitarian organizations operating within Afghanistan. An additional €20mn will be directed to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran, with each country receiving €10mn.
The aid package will address critical needs, including food assistance, healthcare, treatment for malnutrition, clean water and sanitation, as well as legal and protection services for vulnerable populations. Education for children, especially girls, and disaster preparedness measures will also be prioritized.
As part of the EU’s continued commitment, a new EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flight is set to arrive in Afghanistan on 17 June, carrying nearly 100 tonnes of emergency supplies. Since its launch in 2021, the air bridge has delivered over 2,150 tonnes of aid across 40 flights.
"As the Afghan people continue to face numerous hardships, both within Afghanistan and in Pakistan and Iran, the EU remains ready to help. Particularly concerning are the needs of the thousands of Afghans that have been recently returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries. This EU funding will provide much needed aid to the most vulnerable, so they can get food, healthcare, education and other essential services," Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib stated.
The announcement was made during a gathering of senior humanitarian officials in Brussels to assess the situation in Afghanistan and coordinate future efforts.
Currently, nearly 24mn people in Afghanistan need humanitarian aid, with around 15mn facing acute food insecurity. Droughts, economic instability, and mass deportations have worsened living conditions, while women and girls continue to face restrictions on education and employment.
In addition, over 8mn Afghans remain displaced in Pakistan and Iran, where they struggle with limited access to livelihoods and are disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters and forced returns.
Since 2021, the EU has contributed more than €860mn in humanitarian aid to address the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.
Earlier, UNICEF, with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), launched the “First Foods Afghanistan” initiative to tackle the country’s escalating child food poverty crisis. The move follows alarming findings from UNICEF’s 2025 Child Food Poverty Report, which shows that 90% of young children in Afghanistan live in food poverty, with half suffering from severe food poverty—placing the country fourth globally in severe child food poverty rates.
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