Afghanistan to remain major crisis in 2026, UN, partners warn

© UNICEF/Mark Naftalin

Humanitarian resources to support women and their children are diminishing in Afghanistan.

This article is published in association with United Nations.

Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, UN agencies and humanitarian partners warned on Tuesday, launching a $1.7 billion appeal to assist nearly 18 million people in urgent need.

Years of conflict, compounded by worsening food insecurity, recurrent natural disasters, climate change impacts and large-scale returns of displaced people, have left an estimated 45 per cent of the population – some 21.9 million people – in need of humanitarian assistance next year.

Of those, 17.5 million people – more than three-quarters of them women and children – have been prioritised for support under the coordinated response.

Food and basic hygiene

Food security and sanitation remain among the most urgent needs.

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The Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan projects that during the 2025-2026 lean season, more than one-third of Afghanistan’s population will face crisis-level or worse food insecurity, as defined by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). 

This means many households will meet minimum food needs only by depleting essential livelihood assets – a sharp deterioration compared with the previous year.

The ongoing drought has also led to the failure of nearly 80 per cent of rainfed wheat crops in several regions, leaving many families without food stocks for the winter.

Sanitation conditions are equally dire: an estimated 25 per cent of households relied on unimproved water sources this year, while 37 per cent lacked soap for basic hygiene. 

The response will prioritise water, sanitation and hygiene needs in areas most affected by drought, cholera outbreaks, disasters and large-scale returns.

Returning home to crisis 

Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing returnee-related displacement crises, with around five million people returning to the country this year.

More than 2.6 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan, driven largely by tightened migration policies and deteriorating protection conditions.

Many have returned to districts already grappling with poverty, food insecurity, drought and limited access to basic services, further straining local capacities.

More aid for less

In 2026, humanitarian partners aim to reach more people with fewer resources.

The $1.71 billion required represents a 29 per cent reduction compared to the resources needed in 2025. Yet it aims to reach about 4 per more than the target last year.

These changes have been “driven by sharper prioritisation, notable efficiency gains, and a strategic shift away from high-cost, less sustainable interventions,” the response plan noted.