Afghanistan — humanitarian situation

Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis remains severe, with 21.9 million people requiring assistance INTERSOS. The operating environment in July was marked by heightened regional tensions, including escalated Afghanistan–Pakistan border clashes, shelling, and airspace violations during the first half of the month UNHCR. Although major cross-border incidents subsided, bilateral relations remained tense alongside increased armed opposition activity in several areas. Monsoon rains and flash floods in late May affected multiple northern and north-eastern provinces, causing 184 deaths and 597 injuries across Afghanistan and Pakistan, with damage to homes, water and sanitation infrastructure, and health facilities constraining access WHO. Large-scale population movements continued, with over 155,900 returnees entering Afghanistan in July alone, 62% arriving from Pakistan WHO. Child malnutrition has reached crisis levels, with 3.7 million children currently suffering from acute malnutrition, including approximately 1 million with life-threatening severe acute malnutrition UNICEF. The crisis disproportionately affects the youngest and most vulnerable, overwhelming hospital capacity across the country. The health system faces additional pressure from ongoing disease surveillance needs, though Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever cases decreased by 37.5% compared to June levels, requiring continued monitoring to determine seasonality WHO. Wild poliovirus type 1 transmission persists, with 19 cases confirmed in Afghanistan through mid-August 2026, concentrated in Hirat, Paktika, and Kandahar provinces WHO. Health partners distributed 240 medical kits and trained 380 health workers in July to strengthen response capacity. Market conditions remained mixed through late August, with food and agricultural input prices declining while vegetables, rice, and fuel costs increased WFP. Elevated diesel prices, regional trade disruptions, and supply constraints continued pressuring transportation and import costs. The near-total suspension of development assistance since 2021 has left humanitarian aid as the primary support mechanism, though INTERSOS advocates for combining life-saving assistance with principled, targeted development support to address the protracted nature of the crisis.