Afghanistan — humanitarian situation

Cross-border hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated significantly in June, with major militant attacks by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan prompting Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan's border provinces that resulted in at least 41 confirmed civilian fatalities (ACLED, UN). This deterioration compounds an already fragile humanitarian environment strained by continued large-scale returns of Afghans from Pakistan. Since the announcement of Pakistan's Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan nearly two years ago, 1 million Afghans returned or were deported in 2025 alone, with an additional 531,800 returns recorded in 2026 despite earlier border closures (UNHCR). Between 1 and 15 June, 58,469 Afghan returnees were identified crossing through five border points (IOM). These return flows, whether voluntary or forced, continue to add pressure on Afghanistan's humanitarian and protection systems. UNICEF maintained essential health service delivery across all 34 provinces through 2,393 static and 16 mobile facilities, reaching over 6.5 million people (UNICEF). Nutrition surveillance conducted through 481 sentinel sites across 401 districts monitors under-five malnutrition using mid-upper arm measurements (Nutrition Cluster, UNICEF). Between January and May, nutrition services through more than 3,500 delivery points admitted 25,738 children for treatment of severe and moderate wasting (UNICEF). Flooding in Maidan Wardak Province and Saydabad District prompted emergency response, with 270 food parcels distributed to affected households reaching 2,160 beneficiaries (Turkish Red Crescent). UNICEF supported approximately 42,987 children, 60 percent girls, through community-driven education activities (UNICEF). Humanitarian funding remains severely constrained at the mid-year point, with Afghanistan among displacement crises experiencing critically low resource mobilization (NRC). The deteriorating security environment, including attacks on aid workers that have resulted in 787 killed, 717 injured, and 371 kidnapped globally over the past 25 months, underscores ongoing access challenges for humanitarian operations (Insecurity Insight).