Doha: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that a severe funding shortfall could disrupt humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, jeopardizing food, healthcare, and essential services for millions of vulnerable families.

According to Qatar News Agency, in a statement released Sunday, OCHA said that the critical funding gap is hindering essential aid operations in Afghanistan between October and December. The statement added that the potential disruption would directly impact life-saving assistance, including food supplies, clean water, education support, and basic health services upon which millions of Afghans depend.

OCHA stressed that immediate and sustained funding is crucial to keeping relief operations running, noting that even short gaps would have serious humanitarian consequences as winter approaches.

UN agencies and international aid organizations have repeatedly warned that the aid lifeline in Afghanistan is under severe strain due to declining international donations and increasing needs on the ground.