Attachments
Highlights
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In 2024, 23.7 million people (12.4 million children) are in need of humanitarian assistance. In addition, approximately 180,000 people are at risk of natural disasters (54 per cent of them children).
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The Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) projections for the period November 2023 to March 2024 highlighted a deterioration in food security, with the number of people in IPC phase 3 or above likely to rise to 15.8 million (36 per cent of the total population).
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In February, a total of 1,041,809 children under the age of five years were screened for acute malnutrition at 3,300 fixed and mobile health facilities supported by UNICEF across the country.
Out of those screened, 43,051 children with severe wasting (57 per cent girls) were admitted for treatment. -
In February, more than 6 million people were reached with essential health services in UNICEF-supported health facilities.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Afghanistan is highly prone to intense and recurring natural hazards, such as flooding, earthquakes, avalanches, landslides, and drought, due largely to its mountainous terrain and environmental degradation. Based on the findings of the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), approximately 180,000 people are at risk of natural disasters (54 per cent of them children). It is expected that severe and unpredictable weather events, like summer floods, will increase in 2024 and beyond due to the impact of climate change, with severe knock-on effects on infrastructure and agriculture, and contributing to displacement. As harsh winter conditions begin to ease, the risk of heavy rains and flooding increases. Afghanistan is also prone to earthquakes. Earthquake tremors from 4.6-5.0 magnitude were reported in Takhar, Balkh, Kunduz and Badakhshan provinces in February. While the impact was minimal, there is a risk of larger-scale earthquakes in these, and other, regions.
The risk of drought is prevalent in Afghanistan. The Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) projections for the period November 2023 to March 2024 highlighted a deterioration in food security, with the number of people in IPC phase 3 or above likely to rise to 15.8 million (36 per cent of the total population), including about 3.6 million people in IPC phase 4 (Emergency), and about 12.3 million people in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). Although cumulative precipitation from October 2023 through February 2024 was below average across the country, deficits declined following good precipitation in late February 2024. It is expected that average precipitation from March to May 2024 will further reduce cumulative deficits across the country and support wheat production in the spring.
Afghanistan is also susceptible to epidemic-prone diseases. The epidemiological curve of suspected measles cases demonstrates a rising trend since the third week of November 2023. This could be explained by increased community transmission exacerbated by the winter season and low immunization coverage. Between 18 and 24 February 2024, a total of 1,190 suspected cases and 5 measles-associated deaths were reported. This is the highest number of suspected cases reported in a week since week 26 of 2022 (1,574 cases). Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 7,179 suspected measles cases and 29 deaths (CFR = 0.4 per cent) were reported. Among the suspected measles cases, 5,782 (81 per cent) were under-five children, and 3,301 (46 per cent) were females.
The epi curve shows an increase in acute respiratory infection (ARI) cases since the 3rd week of September 2023 which could be linked to cold weather across the country. During week 8 of 2024, a total of 38,948 cases of ARI/pneumonia and 81 associated deaths were reported. Since 1 January 2024, a total of 325,095 ARI/pneumonia cases and 749 associated deaths were reported from 34 provinces. Out of the total cases, 205,585 (63 per cent) were under-five children and 160,657 (49 per cent) were females. Out of the total deaths, 653 (87 per cent) were under-five children and 333 (45 per cent) were females. The current number of cases is higher than the average number of cases reported during the three preceding years (2020-2022). The higher number of cases in 2023 and 2024 could be attributed to the improvement in reporting due to the enhancement of the surveillance system.
According to the Access Monitoring and Reporting Framework managed by OCHA, 136 access incidents were reported by humanitarian partners in February, compared to 109 incidents reported during the same period of February 2023, indicating a 25 per cent increase due to the physical access constraints throughout the period of winter. Interference in the implementation of humanitarian response remains the main driver of access constraints. UNICEF continues to work through the inter-agency coordination mechanisms and provincial-level engagement through its network of zonal offices to negotiate solutions to challenges and secure exemptions ensuring principled aid delivery.