Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Afghanistan is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis driven by severe drought, widespread malnutrition, and extensive displacement, according to the United Nations.
Nearly 22 million people across the country require assistance amid rapidly deteriorating conditions. In Bamyan province, water scarcity has caused crop failures, forcing about half of some villages' populations to leave their homes. Those remaining often cannot afford to depart, surviving on limited food such as degraded potato peelings cooked into soup, said Olga Cherevko from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
An estimated 3.7 million children in Afghanistan are suffering from acute malnutrition. Many cases go untreated because symptoms are not recognized in time for effective intervention. UN-supported clinics are working to identify and support these children while raising awareness in remote areas.
The situation is further complicated by the plight of forcibly returned individuals. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reports that around 8,000 people were returned to Afghanistan in a single week, many of whom have never lived in the country and face immense challenges in securing basic needs.
The UN’s $1.7 billion funding appeal remains deeply underfunded, with only 14 percent received, hindering efforts to meet urgent needs. The situation in remote areas is described as becoming impossible, with life severely impacted by drought, displacement, and food insecurity.