Tehran-IRAF- the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in its latest report, has warned that millions of Afghans depend on humanitarian assistance to meet their most basic living needs.
The report points to the root causes of the crisis, stating that widespread poverty, the consequences of decades of war, and climate-related disasters such as droughts, floods, and earthquakes have severely weakened families’ ability to cope with hardship and have intensified the vulnerability of the Afghan population.
The ICRC emphasized that food insecurity, limited access to healthcare services, and shortages of safe drinking water have made large segments of Afghanistan’s population reliant on external assistance.
Stressing that humanitarian needs in Afghanistan remain extensive, the Red Cross called on the international community to continue sustained support to ease human suffering and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities.
Red Cross activities in Afghanistan in 2025
Over the past year, the Red Cross, in cooperation with the Afghan Red Crescent Society, provided a range of services, including primary healthcare for more than 1.2 million patients—mostly women and children at 47 medical centers.
More than 337,000 vaccine doses were administered, and over 9,000 malnourished children were enrolled in nutrition programs.
Previously, the Red Cross had warned that reductions in humanitarian aid have forced children into labor, pushed girls into early marriage, and led families to lose young children in Afghanistan.
Additionally, hundreds of aid centers across the country have either shut down or are facing serious operational challenges due to declining humanitarian assistance.
Furthermore, cold weather, hunger, and the closure of service centers have affected the lives of millions of Afghans, particularly in rural areas.
