Attachments
Highlights
- In 2026, approximately 21.9 million people - close to half of the population - require humanitarian assistance, including over 11.6 million children.
- In January 2026, 46,795 children were admitted for inpatient and outpatient treatment. To prevent malnutrition, 185,234 caregivers of young children received counselling on maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN), while 180,124 pregnant women were provided with multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS).
- Around 19,313 people gained access to safe drinking water through construction and rehabilitation of durable water supply systems during the month of January.
Situation in numbers
21.9 M People in need of humanitarian assistance (HNRP 2026)
11.6 M Children in need of humanitarian assistance (HNRP 2026)
942,000 Children under 5 expected to need treatment for severe acute malnutrition (HNRP 2026)
14.4 M People in need of humanitarian health assistance (HNRP 2026)
Funding Overview and Partnerships
UNICEF Afghanistan expresses its sincere gratitude to all public and private sector donors for the contributions received. As of 31 January 2026, the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal for 2026 requiring an overall budget of USD 949.1 million is 42 per cent funded. UNICEF is grateful to UNICEF’s extensive family of National Committees for new contributions awarded in January.
In addition, UNICEF wishes to reiterate its appreciation to all partners who provided funding for interventions as outlined in the HAC 2026 – including through important longer-term funding granted in previous years that continued to support implementation in 2026, namely the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank as the trustee of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund with contributions from the Kuwait Society for Relief and the Saudi Fund for Development, the European Union (Humanitarian Aid), the People and the Governments of the People of China through the UNICEF China Country Office, France, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahya, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, the Global Partnership for Education and UNESCO, the Gates Foundation, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) administered by UN OCHA, as well as UNICEF’s extensive family of National Committees.
Moreover, UNICEF extends its special appreciation to Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the family of National Committees for UNICEF as well as private sector partners for contributing flexible resources, which continuously enable UNICEF to respond to sudden and underfunded needs.
UNICEF Afghanistan deeply appreciates the continued support by donors to the response in the country. Throughout 2026, with both humanitarian and basic human needs at dire levels, our unwavering shared commitment to the people of Afghanistan will be crucial to alleviate acute suffering and to reduce preventable deaths, particularly among children and women.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, despite a modest reduction in the overall number of people in need. Years of conflict, economic fragility, underinvestment in basic services and the rapid erosion of rights have left large segments of the population with diminished resilience. These chronic stresses are now compounded by worsening food insecurity, large-scale cross-border returns, climate-driven drought, recurrent natural hazards, and the systematic exclusion of women and girls from public life. In 2026, around 21.9 million people – approximately 45 per cent of the population – are projected to require humanitarian assistance, reflecting the combined impact of overlapping shocks and deep structural vulnerability.
Compared with the same winter lean season projection last year, the 2026 IPC analysis shows a deterioration in acute food insecurity in Afghanistan. The number of people projected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) rose from 14.8 million (32 per cent of the population) to 17.4 million (36 per cent) for November 2025 to March 2026, including an increase in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) cases from 3.1 million to 4.7 million. Between January and December 2026, an estimated 3.7 million children under five are expected to suffer acute malnutrition—26 per cent severely—alongside 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women. By early 2026, malnutrition is projected to worsen in some areas, with Faryab and Paktika moving into IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 4 (Critical).
Population movements continue to place additional strain on already overstretched services with the return of over 2.8 million people from neighbouring countries by late November further increasing humanitarian needs and placing additional pressure on basic services and livelihoods. Since last year large-scale returns from neighbouring countries have continued, with hundreds of thousands of Afghans crossing through border points such as Torkham, Spin Boldak, and Milak. According to International Organization for Migration (IOM), returnees often arrive with limited assets and require immediate multi-sectoral assistance, including shelter, WASH, health, and protection services.
Health risks remain elevated, particularly for children and women. Surveillance data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate continued outbreaks of measles and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), with children under five disproportionately affected. Harsh winter conditions, inadequate shelter, and limited access to safe water exacerbate the risk of communicable diseases and acute malnutrition.
Overall, the humanitarian context in January 2026 remains characterized by high levels of need, constrained operational capacity, and significant funding gaps. Immediate, sustained, and flexible support is required to prevent further deterioration in food security, nutrition, health outcomes, and protection conditions, particularly for children and vulnerable households.