Afghanistan faces deepening humanitarian crisis as aid funding falls short

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says nearly 22 million Afghans now require assistance. A $1.7 billion appeal for 2026 has received only about 14 percent of the needed funding, leaving large gaps in food, water and health aid.

Prolonged drought has devastated irrigation, prompting many families to abandon villages. OCHA official Olga Cherevko described a Bamyan province village where “around half of the population had left… because there’s simply no water to irrigate the lands.” Those who remain often survive on makeshift meals, such as a soup made from potato peelings, she recounted meeting a father of nine.

Acute malnutrition threatens 3.7 million children, with some deaths reported due to delayed treatment. Between January and April, agencies reached 5.9 million people, including 3.5 million with food assistance, but officials warn that without a substantial increase in international contributions, millions will continue to face worsening hunger, poverty and displacement.