Afghanistan: Humanitarian Update, November 2024

Afghanistan’s Climate Crisis: Urgent Action Needed After COP29

Afghanistan is grappling with a climate crisis that continues to devastate lives, disrupt livelihoods and escalate humanitarian needs. Despite contributing less than 0.01 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Afghanistan is one of the top 10 countries most affected by climate change, with extreme weather events worsening each year.

In 2023, Afghanistan entered its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions, following the worst drought in three decades in 2022. About 60 per cent of the population depends on rainfed agriculture, making them highly vulnerable to shifting precipitation patterns, which threaten their already precarious food security. The changing climate is also exacerbating glacier melt, reducing snowpack and drastically lowering water availability—especially in urban areas. Desertification, which has affected over 75 per cent of the land in northern, western and southern regions, further degrades soil and impacts agricultural productivity. As a result, poverty and displacement are increasing, with families forced to migrate in search of basic survival.

Abdul Ghani, a resident of Nimroz Province, shares the dire situation. “We used to grow watermelon, melon and wheat, but two years ago, we stopped planting because there was no water. Our livestock died of hunger and nobody was buying them because they were so skinny.” Abdul Ghani’s village has shrunk from 125 families to just 60, as drought and poverty continue to force families to leave in search of better opportunities.

Afghanistan’s climate crisis is compounded by the country’s ongoing humanitarian challenges. In 2024, an estimated 23.7 million people in Afghanistan are in need of life-saving aid, yet humanitarian action alone is insufficient to address the climate-related vulnerabilities affecting the most vulnerable populations.

This year, Afghanistan has also faced devastating flooding, affecting over 170,000 people across all 34 provinces. Approximately 500 people have been killed and more than 800 injured. Tens of thousands of houses have also been destroyed or damaged.[1] These floods, along with droughts, serve as stark reminders of the growing unpredictability and intensity of climate impacts in Afghanistan.

In his closing statement at COP29, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the critical need for financial support to developing countries, including Afghanistan, which are facing both the devastating impacts of climate change and economic instability. He stressed that “finance [is] priority number one” and emphasized that “developing countries, swamped by debt, pummeled by disasters, and left behind in the renewables revolution, are in desperate need of funds.” Afghanistan, already grappling with severe economic decline since August 2021, urgently requires swift access to concessional finance and debt relief to address its mounting climate challenges.

Secretary-General Guterres also underscored that COP29 agreements must be honoured in full and on time, with commitments quickly turned into tangible action. He urged governments to fulfill their pledges and speed up the energy transition, particularly by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The UN Secretary-General’s call for the full implementation of COP29 agreements serves as a crucial reminder for the international community to support countries like Afghanistan, which are on the frontlines of climate change. The transition to a greener, more resilient future for Afghanistan depends on increased international solidarity and immediate action on climate finance.[2]

COP29 offered hope for a global shift toward stronger climate action, but for Afghanistan, it’s clear that progress must be rapid and sustained. The country cannot wait for future commitments to be fulfilled—it needs the support of the global community now to face the challenges of today’s climate crisis. Immediate action is needed to protect lives and help people adapt over the longer-term.

The Effects of the Climate Crisis on Afghanistan’s Farmers: Baz Gul’s Story

As the world grapples with the escalating effects of the climate crisis, farmers around the globe face unprecedented challenges. In Afghanistan, where agriculture is not just a livelihood but a way of life, adaptation is crucial. Baz Gul, a 58-year-old farmer with 40 years of experience, shares his firsthand account of how climate change, agricultural practices and humanitarian aid intersect—highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions for rural farming communities.

Baz Gul has practiced rain-fed agriculture, cultivating cotton, eggplant, okra and melon across his six hectares of farmland in the Dawlatabad District of Faryab Province. With a large family of 46 members, farming is vital not only for sustenance but also for the economic wellbeing of his household. However, in recent years, the adverse effects of the climate crisis have dramatically altered the agricultural practices that once sustained him.

“The weather has changed significantly. In the past few years, we’ve faced consecutive droughts that led to meagre harvests and subsequently, the loss of our indigenous seeds. In 2024, we finally received substantial rain, but it was too late to plant and severe floods washed away our topsoil,” Baz Gul says.

Baz Gul’s situation is not unique. Across Afghanistan, farmers face uncertainty due to shifting weather patterns. His dependence on rainwater for irrigation, in the context of poor and unreliable water management systems, highlights a fundamental vulnerability in farming. Rainfall, once a reliable source of nourishment for crops, is now either extremely scarce or the cause of catastrophic flooding. “We are in dire need of water for both irrigation and household use. Without proper systems to capture and manage this water, we risk losing everything,” Baz Gul adds.

Baz Gul stresses the importance of building water dams to preserve rainwater for the dry farming season. “There are three feasible sites in Faryab where dams could be constructed to store large volumes of water. This water could then be used for irrigation and significantly improve our farming outcomes,” he explains.

In the face of this crisis, Baz Gul has received assistance from humanitarian partners like the World Food Programme and local agricultural departments, which have provided crucial resources such as fertilizer and food during extreme droughts and flooding. “These humanitarian efforts have been vital during my family’s struggles,” he acknowledges. However, reliance on such aid is a short-term solution to a long-term problem, underscoring the need for sustainable agricultural practices.

“While we appreciate the immediate relief, we desire durable solutions that will help us become self-sufficient. We need the tools and resources to sustain ourselves without perpetual reliance on humanitarian assistance,” Baz Gul stresses.

Looking ahead, Baz Gul urges de facto authority officials to support farmers by developing comprehensive water management systems, providing drought-resistant seed varieties and supplying agricultural machinery. “If we secure a good harvest, we can contribute to our local economy and provide for our families without needing aid.” He also appeals to the international donor community: “Support us in building water dams and improving our irrigation systems. Help us transform our farming practices so that we can become self-reliant. This will not only alleviate our immediate struggles but build a more sustainable future for our community.”

Despite the numerous challenges posed by the climate crisis, Baz Gul remains hopeful for the future of farming in Afghanistan. He envisions a day when effective water management allows farmers to cultivate with confidence, reducing their vulnerability to climate variability. “With the right support and infrastructure, we can reverse the trend of wasted resources and enhance our agricultural productivity,” he says.

Baz Gul’s story illustrates the resilience of farmers affected by the climate crisis. It underscores the urgent need for global initiatives focused on water management and sustainability in agriculture. As nations come together to combat climate threats, stories like Baz Gul's illuminate the path toward building a sustainable future—where farmers are not only survivors but also essential contributors to their economies and communities. For meaningful change to happen, tangible actions and partnerships must be prioritized, ensuring that communities like Baz Gul’s can thrive in the face of adversity.[3]

How 6.7 Billion Dollars in Humanitarian Aid Has Shaped Afghanistan’s Recovery Since 2021

Afghanistan has received approximately $6.7 billion in humanitarian funding since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. This support coincided with the country’s most severe humanitarian crisis in decades, driven by severe economic decline, food insecurity, the worst drought in 30 years and a collapsing public health system. In 2023, 29.2 million people were in need of assistance. Since then, the situation has stabilized, with improvements observed in key sectors such as food security, healthcare, education, protection, sanitation and shelter. However, Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters, climate change and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Humanitarian efforts have made significant strides in alleviating suffering and preventing a larger-scale disaster. The number of people facing emergency food insecurity has dropped dramatically.

Humanitarian efforts have led to a 14 percentage point reduction in IPC 4 populations, from 8.7 million to 3.1 million and an 8 percentage point reduction in IPC 3 populations, from 14.1 million to 11.6 million. By November 2024, the number of people in IPC 4 conditions is expected to decrease to just 3.1 million, or 7 per cent of the population.

In addition to food security, there has been a remarkable improvement in malnutrition treatment for children. This achievement is largely attributed to the expansion of nutrition sites, with the number of Moderate Acute Malnutrition and Severe Acute Malnutrition sites nearly doubling since 2021, from 1,585 to 3,333.

The number of acutely malnourished children receiving treatment more than doubled, from 1.1 million in 2021 to 2.2 million in 2023. By 2024, 1.3 million children have already received treatment and 2.9 million could be treated by the end of the year if the Nutrition Cluster were fully funded.

Access to primary healthcare has also expanded significantly. The Health Cluster’s ability to increase the number of humanitarian health facilities from 422 in January 2022 to 908 in December 2023 has played a pivotal role, driven by the expanded operational presence of partners.

Humanitarian action has expanded access to primary healthcare, with 11.6 million people receiving services by 2023, up from 7.9 million in 2021. Maternal mortality rates have also slightly decreased, from 638 per live births to 620 per 100,000.

Shelter assistance has seen a significant increase, with 304,800 people supported in 2023, compared to just 54,700 in 2021.

However, as the humanitarian community faces future funding shortfalls, there are concerns that the gains achieved over the past three years could be reversed, leaving millions of Afghans vulnerable once again. Humanitarian actors remain committed to delivering accountable, inclusive and quality assistance. But as the needs grow and funding gaps widen, it is essential to maintain support to avoid a backslide into crisis.[4]

[1] Afghanistan Natural Disasters Dashboard

[2] UN Secretary-General COP29 Closing Statement

[3] This article was produced with the support of OCHA Afghanistan colleagues at the sub-national level, Nova Ratnanto and Mohammad Haroon Qadery.

[4] Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Impact Analysis 2021 - 2024 (October 2024)