ReliefWeb

KEY HUMANITARIAN ISSUES

Conflict causes death, injury and displacement

7,965 civilians killed and injured by conflict January-September 2014, 22 per cent of which were children. 105,800 people fled their homes, in the same period, amidst increased fighting in Northern Hilmand and other provinces.

1.2 million children acutely malnourished

Of which, 500,000 children under five years old will need treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2015. Malnutrition is an underlying cause in more than one third of under-five child deaths in Afghanistan.

2.2 million people very severely food insecure

Approximately 2.2 million Afghans live on less than 1,500 kilocalories/day and are considered very severely food insecure. Food insecurity affects nearly 8 million people with an additional 2.4 million classified as severe, and 3.1 million moderately food insecure.

225,000 Pakistani refugees in need of emergency assistance

In the wake of a full scale military offensive, some 225,000 people (30,000 families) have fled their homes in Pakistan to neighbouring Afghan provinces. The sudden influx has strained capacities and depleted coping mechanisms in already under-served host communities.

Half a million children dying of preventable diseases

Acute diarrhoea affects nearly 1.7 million and acute respiratory infection some 750,000 children under 5 years per year. Simple, appropriate and inexpensive treatments can significantly reduce both conditions and the associated excess mortality among children in Afghanistan.

4,000 families face winter without adequate shelter

Some 8,000 homes were destroyed in northern Afghanistan following spring rains and flooding in April. While the humanitarian community is supporting shelter needs in affected communities, some 4,000 vulnerable families living at high elevation risk facing the winter without adequate shelter.