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Afghanistan features on this year’s Emergency Watchlist as some 23.7 million people—just over half of the population—urgently need humanitarian support. The crisis in Afghanistan largely stems from the unraveling of the country’s economy following the 2021 change in government. Climate shocks, including recent flooding and earthquakes, exacerbate challenges.

The ̽����ѡ is on the ground in Afghanistan, responding to humanitarian needs across the country.

Read on to learn more about the crisis in Afghanistan.

Flooding impacts Afghans across more than 100 districts

Since April 13th, Afghanistan experienced heavy rains and flash floods across 32 of its 34 provinces, killing over 250 people. Nearly 1,000 homes and over 60,000 acres of agricultural land have been destroyed, alongside critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges and electricity supplies which could hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Any additional flooding will have a detrimental impact on large swathes of the population which are already reeling from an economic collapse, high levels of malnutrition and conflict.

“These latest floods have caused a major humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan, which is still reeling from a string of earthquakes at the beginning of this year as well as severe flooding in March, explains ̽����ѡ Afghanistan director, Salma Ben Aissa. “Communities have lost entire families, while livelihoods have been decimated as a result.”

An ̽����ѡ staff member conducts an assessment with a man whose home was impacted by recent flooding.

Photo: Abdul Khaliq Sediqi for the ̽����ѡ

Economic pressures continue to drive humanitarian needs

Afghanistan’s economy collapsed after the Republic of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan (IEA), commonly known as the Taliban, took control of the country in August 2021. Now, the country finds itself economically isolated, losing development funding that previously subsidized an estimated of Afghanistan’s spending on public services. Meanwhile, the funds of the Afghan central bank remain frozen and inaccessible as sanctions and international restrictions limit foreign financial inflows.

Although Afghanistan’s economy stabilized slightly in 2022, it saw  in 2023. Nearly lives in poverty and will continue to experience economic hardship.

Moreover, funding for Afghanistan’s plan was lower than in 2022, undermining humanitarian action in the country.

Climate shocks have hindered Mohammad’s* ability to provide for his family. The ̽����ѡ’s mobile health team visited Mohammad and his family in Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan and provided them with health check-ups and medication.

Photo: Abeera Atif for the ̽����ѡ

Climate shocks threaten to deepen food insecurity

Three years of successive drought and the harshest winter in 15 years have exacerbated Afghanistan’s hunger crisis at a time when international support is falling. Though an estimated —35% of the population—continue to suffer from crisis or worse (IPC 3+) levels of food insecurity, funding shortfalls forced the World Food Program (WFP) to cut food assistance for some in 2023.

Moreover, declining groundwater levels and increased desertification are diminishing crop yields, leading to reduced food availability in a country that is highly dependent on agricultural production. Simultaneously, the El Niño phenomenon will likely bring wetter-than-normal conditions in 2024, which could lead to an increased risk of floods—particularly in the north and northeast—further affecting crop production and food supplies.

Ten-month-old Shams Ullah* receives treatment for malnutrition from an ̽����ѡ mobile health team in Sang-e-Atash district, Afghanistan. Shams Ullah and his family live in a drought-stricken region of Afghanistan and have found it increasingly difficult to meet their nutritional needs.

Photo: Mahab Azizi for the ̽����ѡ

Planned expulsion of 1.7 million Afghans from Pakistan set to increase needs

Pakistan’s government announced the expulsion of more than half a million Afghan refugees, who have already been forced to return to Afghanistan. Thousands more are expected to be deported throughout 2024—especially if Pakistan’s government expands expulsion orders to include the 2.2 million documented Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Iran’s government is also considering expelling Afghans that it deems are living in the country illegally.

The arrival of hundreds of thousands of Afghans to the country's border regions would greatly exacerbate regional needs at a time when there is little capacity to provide support.

Wali* and his sons sit in front of their tent in the Torkham camp, Nangarhar province, where over 560,000 Afghans have reentered the country after being expelled from Pakistan.

Photo: Abdul Khaliq Sediqi for the ̽����ѡ

Conflict continues to put civilians at risk

Despite the end of large-scale conflict in Afghanistan, the prevalence of local armed groups sustains localized insecurity. Civilians are at risk of deadly bombings, which have resulted in significant casualties.

Any increase in nonstate armed group activity would pose significant threats to civilians—particularly to minority Shiite, Hazara, Sikh and Hindu groups who are often targeted.

Challenges in delivering humanitarian aid

Since regaining control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has issued a series of decrees that complicate the delivery of humanitarian aid. This includes restrictions placed on female aid workers, curbing their ability to freely work for humanitarian organizations.

Meanwhile, winter conditions and other environmental hazards such as earthquakes and floods—as well as ongoing conflict risks—will continue to hamper humanitarian efforts to reach affected populations, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

Hajera*, an ̽����ѡ teacher in Afghanistan, reads to her students in Logar, Afghanistan. The ̽����ѡ’s Community-Based Education program aims to provide quality education to Afghan children, particularly those affected by conflict and displacement.

Photo: Mahab Azizi for the ̽����ѡ

How does the ̽����ѡ help in Afghanistan?

The ̽����ѡ first began working in Afghanistan in 1988 and has since expanded to deliver services in thousands of villages across 12 provinces. Since August 2021, the ̽����ѡ has significantly improved Afghanistan’s health care landscape by enhancing the capacity of nine static health facilities and establishing 35 mobile health teams.

Afghans suffering from malnutrition are enrolled in the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition program, which has a remarkable 93.5% cure rate. The ̽����ѡ in Afghanistan works closely with locally-led partner organizations, sub-awarding 23% of its funds to partner organizations in 2023. We aim to reach the 25% sub-funding threshold in 2024.

In 2023, the ̽����ѡ in Afghanistan met a wide array of humanitarian needs, serving nearly 2 million clients with health services, over 250,000 with economic recovery and development aid, and almost 200,000 through educational programs. The ̽����ѡ’s environmental programming reached close to 500,000 individuals, while family support services were extended to nearly 100,000 Afghans. Additionally, our emergency response efforts assisted almost 250,000 clients across the country.

Learn more about the ̽����ѡ’s work in Afghanistan.

Nine-year-old Nazia* attends class at an ̽����ѡ Community-Based Education program in Logar, Afghanistan. By establishing schools and educational centers, the ̽����ѡ ensures that both boys and girls have equal access to education, fostering a generation of educated and empowered individuals.

Photo: Mahab Azizi for the ̽����ѡ

How can I support Afghanistan?

to support the ̽����ѡ's life-changing work in Afghanistan and worldwide. We are on the frontlines providing critical aid to crisis-affected people in more than 50 countries, including places on the 2024 Emergency Watchlist.

Read more about the top 10 crises the world can’t ignore in 2024 and download the full 2024 Emergency Watchlist report for profiles of all 20 crisis countries on the ̽����ѡ's list.

*Last name excluded for privacy