Afghanistan

Afghanistan will remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, despite a modest reduction in the overall number of people in need. Years of conflict, economic fragility, underinvestment in basic services and the rapid erosion of rights have left large segments of the population with diminished resilience. 

These chronic stresses are now compounded by worsening food insecurity, large-scale cross-border returns, climate change-driven drought, recurrent natural hazards, and the systematic exclusion of women and girls from public life. In 2026, around 21.9 million people – approximately 45 per cent of the population – are projected to require humanitarian assistance, reflecting the combined impact of overlapping shocks and deep structural vulnerability.

Food insecurity and acute malnutrition remain among the most severe and widespread drivers of humanitarian need in Afghanistan. During the 2025–2026 lean season (November 2025–March 2026), an estimated 17.4 million people – more than one-third of the population – are projected to face crisis or worse food insecurity (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification [IPC] Phase 3+), including 4.7 million experiencing emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels.

The ongoing drought's impact on food production, livelihoods and livestock combined with communicable disease outbreaks are directly driving a worsening nutrition crisis. At least 3.7 million children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026, 942,000 with severe acute malnutrition and1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are also expected to be acutely malnourished.

Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing returnee-related displacement crises. Over the past two years, approximately 5 million people - equivalent to 10 per cent of Afghanistan’s total population - have returned to the country. 

These large-scale returns are compounding existing internal displacement and placing extraordinary pressure on housing, land, water, education, health services and labour markets, eastern and southern regions and urban-adjacent districts.

In 2026, the UN and partners need US$1.7 billion to help 17.5 million people.

The response will prioritize food assistance, emergency shelter, healthcare, including maternal and reproductive health services, nutrition services, education, safe drinking water and hygiene items, among other forms of support. The protection of vulnerable groups, especially women, girls, boys and those living with disabilities, remains paramount, involving safe spaces, legal support and psychosocial services.