By The South Asia Times

Kabul -  Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners warned on Tuesday, as they launched a $1.7 billion appeal to assist nearly 18 million people facing urgent needs.

In a statement, the UN said years of conflict, compounded by worsening food insecurity, recurring natural disasters, climate change impacts and the large-scale return of displaced people, have left an estimated 21.9 million people — about 45 per cent of the population — in need of humanitarian assistance next year.

Of these, 17.5 million people, more than three-quarters of them women and children, have been prioritised for support under the coordinated humanitarian response. Food security, water, sanitation and hygiene were identified as the most pressing needs.

According to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, more than one-third of the population is expected to face crisis-level or worse food insecurity during the 2025–26 lean season, as defined by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Many households will be forced to meet basic food needs by selling or depleting essential livelihood assets — a marked deterioration from the previous year.

The situation has been exacerbated by an ongoing drought, which has led to the failure of nearly 80 per cent of rain-fed wheat crops in several regions, leaving families without sufficient food stocks for the winter months.

Sanitation conditions remain equally alarming. The UN said around 25 per cent of households relied on unimproved water sources this year, while 37 per cent lacked soap for basic hygiene. Humanitarian efforts in 2026 will prioritise water, sanitation and hygiene services, particularly in areas affected by drought, cholera outbreaks, natural disasters and mass returns.

Afghanistan is also grappling with one of the world’s fastest-growing returnee crises. Around five million people returned to the country this year, including more than 2.6 million from Iran and Pakistan, largely due to stricter migration policies and deteriorating protection conditions. Many returnees have gone back to districts already struggling with poverty, drought and limited access to services.

Despite the scale of need, humanitarian partners aim to reach more people with fewer resources. The $1.71bn appeal represents a 29pc reduction compared to 2025 requirements, yet targets about 4pc more people, driven by sharper prioritisation, efficiency gains and a shift away from costly, less sustainable interventions, the UN said.