The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says 21.9 million people—nearly half of Afghanistan’s population—will require humanitarian assistance in 2026, as humanitarian conditions remain among the worst globally outside active conflict zones.
In an update released on Dec. 8, 2025, OCHA said
humanitarian partners are seeking US$1.72 billion to assist 17.5 million people
facing the most severe and life-threatening needs next year.
The report notes that although overall humanitarian needs
have seen a slight 4% decrease from 2025, deep structural vulnerabilities
continue to drive the crisis, including worsening food insecurity,
climate-linked drought, frequent earthquakes and floods, disease outbreaks, and
severe protection risks—particularly for women and girls.
According to OCHA, food insecurity has sharply deteriorated,
with 17.4 million people projected to face acute food shortages in 2026. Among
them, 5.2 million people are expected to fall into IPC Phase 4 (Emergency),
more than double last year’s figure. Drought remains critical, affecting 12
provinces and impacting 3.4 million people so far.
Protection threats are also expected to intensify amid
continued restrictions on women and girls imposed by the Taliban, alongside
widespread explosive ordnance contamination, gender-based violence, child
labor, and early marriage. OCHA reports that an average of 50 people per month
are killed or injured by explosive ordnance nationwide.
The humanitarian burden has further grown with more than
2.52 million Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan in 2025, placing
significant pressure on already strained host communities and basic services.
OCHA says the 2026 response plan will prioritize life-saving
aid, including food assistance, shelter, healthcare, nutrition, clean water,
hygiene support and cash aid—focusing on areas where needs are most severe and
intersect.
