Years of conflict, worsening food insecurity, recurrent natural disasters, climate change impacts, and the large-scale return of displaced people have left an estimated 45% of the population, or approximately 21.9 million people, in need of humanitarian assistance in the coming year.
Of these, 17.5 million people, with more than three-quarters being women and children, have been prioritized for assistance in the coordinated response.
Food and Basic Hygiene
Food security and sanitation are among the most urgent needs.
The Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan predicts that during the 2025-2026 lean season, over one-third of the Afghan population will face crisis-level or worse food insecurity, as defined by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
This indicates that many households will only meet minimum food needs by depleting essential livelihood assets—a significant deterioration compared to the previous year.
The ongoing drought has resulted in the failure of nearly 80% of rainfed wheat crops in several regions, leaving many families without food stocks for winter.
Sanitation conditions are equally dire, with an estimated 25% of households relying on unimproved water sources this year, while 37% lacked soap for basic hygiene.
The response will prioritize water, sanitation, and hygiene needs in areas most affected by drought, cholera outbreaks, disasters, and large-scale returns.
Returning Home to Crisis
Afghanistan is experiencing one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing returnee-related displacement crises, with about five million people returning this year.
Over 2.6 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan, mainly due to tightened migration policies and worsening protection conditions.
Many have returned to districts already struggling 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% reduction compared to what was needed in 2025, yet it aims to reach about 4% more than last year’s target.
These changes have been driven by sharper prioritization, notable efficiency gains, and a strategic shift away from high-cost, less sustainable interventions, the response plan noted.
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