Attachments
Highlights
• UNHAS services in Afghanistan are at serious risk due to critical funding shortfalls and urgently need US$10.5 million to sustain operations in 2025. As part of cost-saving measures, UNHAS has discontinued its helicopter service to Tarinkot in Uruzgan Province as of 1 April.
• On 27 February, UNHAS suspended its flights to and from Tarinkot (Uruzgan Province) until further notice due to clearance concerns raised by airport authorities. UNHAS is actively engaging with the relevant stakeholders to resolve the issue and will resume operations once the necessary clearances are obtained.
• The Torkham border reopened after a 28-day closure due to armed clashes over the construction of security posts on both the Afghan and Pakistani sides, which had disrupted humanitarian supply routes.
• Following a joint assessment, WFP and partners identified and assisted 801 displaced households from Torkham and Durbaba, areas affected by the clashes at the Torkham border.
SITUATION UPDATE
• Food security situation: While food insecurity in Afghanistan has slightly improved, WFP remains concerned about the ongoing needs, with 14.8 million people facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of food insecurity and requiring urgent humanitarian food assistance.
• Malnutrition: An alarming nutrition crisis is unfolding, with 3.5 million children and one million pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW) expected to suffer from acute malnutrition. Compared to the 2024 estimation, there are 28 percent and 6 percent increases for moderately acute malnourished (MAM) children and PBW, respectively, with 2.95 million children under five years being stunted (too short for their age). This crisis is exacerbated by drastic reductions in WFP’s emergency food assistance and malnutrition prevention activities over the past two years due to a lack of funding.
• Returnee Response: WFP is preparing for the expected influx of 800,000 returnees from Pakistan after Eid. WFP has already seen a 60 percent weekly increase in voluntary returns. The Border Consortium will be updating the funding appeal for the returnee response until 31 Dec 2025.
• WFP has leveraged its partnership with IOM to streamline border response activities to create a more efficient response. This initiative will reduce the steps returnees must take in the Transit Centers to access humanitarian assistance and reduce costs.