The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is deepening as aid agencies are reducing food assistance due to significant international funding shortages. The United Nations reports that over 17 million Afghans will experience acute food insecurity this year, with around 22 million in need of humanitarian aid, including food, healthcare, and protection services. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, internally displaced persons, and returning refugees are among the most affected.
The UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan has only received less than 20% of the necessary funding by June, leading to the suspension or scaling back of food distributions and healthcare programs, including critical services. Human Rights Watch highlights that the return of more than five million Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran is adding pressure to already struggling communities.
Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, points out that deteriorating economic conditions are pushing many families into extreme hardship. Interviews conducted across Afghanistan reveal parents struggling to provide sufficient food for their children, with households increasingly relying on neighbors for basic meals. The situation is dire, with over 10.7 million women and girls in Afghanistan requiring humanitarian assistance in 2026.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that women and girls in Afghanistan are among the worst affected by the ongoing crisis, facing restrictions on movement, education, and employment that limit their access to essential services and increase protection risks. Afghanistan continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with an estimated 638 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024. The health sector in Afghanistan is under strain due to shortages of women health workers, funding cuts, limited access to essential medicines, and gaps in emergency obstetric care, leading to preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, especially in rural areas with limited healthcare access.
