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CONTEXT
Afghanistan continues to face one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises, shaped by decades of conflict, economic hardship, population displacement, natural hazards and a fragile and under-resourced health system. Compounding shocks in 2025, including the continuous influx of returnees from neighbouring countries, recurrent earthquakes and frequent disease outbreaks have further intensified needs, particularly for women and children who are disproportionally affected.
An estimated 14.4 million people are expected to need health assistance in 2026, compared with 14.3 million in 2025, reflecting rising needs amid persistent vulnerabilities. The return of Afghans from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran has placed additional pressure on the fragile health system and is overwhelming health facilities in border reception areas. As of December 2025, over 2.7 million returnees had been recorded, with many settling in remote and mountainous areas that have been underserved for decades. Communities remain highly vulnerable to both communicable and noncommunicable diseases, while facing heightened social and economic tensions.
Reduced humanitarian funding in 2025 led to the closure of more than 422 health facilities, limiting access to essential health services for an estimated 3 million Afghans. The impact has been particularly severe for women and girls, who already face significant barriers to accessing health care. Movement restrictions, the limited availability of female health workers and restrictive social and institutional norms have further constrained the ability of women and girls to access timely and appropriate health care, deepening gender inequities in health outcomes and increasing the risk of preventable health complications and maternal deaths.
Food insecurity remains a major driver of poor health outcomes in Afghanistan. Around 17.4 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 3 or above), contributing to rising rates of acute malnutrition among children under five as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women. Prolonged drought, recurrent earthquakes and seasonal floods have not only triggered spikes in trauma and emergency health needs but have also heightened the risk of communicable diseases, undermining fragile health and nutrition gains. In 2025, Afghanistan reported 97 368 suspected measles cases and 161 791 cases of acute watery diarrhoea with dehydration, as well as the detection of 6010 dengue fever and 1479 Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever cases. Polio transmission risks persist, with nine confirmed cases as of October 2025.
In 2026, humanitarian health needs are projected to remain high as Afghans will continue to return, the funding landscape will continue to contract, and natural shocks will recur. Safeguarding essential health services, supporting vulnerable populations and maintaining readiness for disease outbreaks and natural disasters will remain vital components of the WHO humanitarian response in Afghanistan.