The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has initiated a $1.71 billion humanitarian needs and response plan for Afghanistan in 2026. Around 21.9 million individuals are anticipated to require humanitarian aid, with 17.4 million facing acute food insecurity, including 4.7 million in Emergency status.
UN humanitarian partners aim to prioritize assistance for 17.5 million people in 2026, accounting for approximately 80% of those in need. The response will encompass life-saving interventions such as food, shelter, healthcare, nutrition, safe water, hygiene, and multipurpose cash support, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is marked by persistent high needs, driven by structural vulnerability, escalating food insecurity, and various shocks like droughts, returnee inflows, earthquakes, floods, disease outbreaks, and protection risks, particularly for women and girls. The return of over 2.61 million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 has further strained host communities, basic services, and livelihoods, according to OCHA.
