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Humanitarian Situation
Nearly 22 million people in need, and the money to help them is disappearing.
Hunger, mass returns from Iran and Pakistan, earthquakes and drought have left almost half the population needing aid, while humanitarian funding has more than halved.
Photo: Staff Sgt. Ryan Matson, Public domain
Key Facts
- ~22 millionPeople in need (millions)2026 humanitarian plan
- 17.4 millionPeople in crisis-level hunger (millions)November 2025 to March 2026 (IPC)
- 6 million+Returns from Iran and PakistanSince September 2023 (UNHCR, June 2026)
- $1.73bn → $769mHumanitarian funding2024 to 2025
People in need (millions)
~22 million
2026 humanitarian plan
People in need and funding
Food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+)
- Late 2021 peak
- Winter 2024/25
- Winter 2025/26
Food assistance reaches only 2.7% of the population.47
Returns and deportations from Iran and Pakistan
| Period | Returns |
|---|---|
| Sept 2023–July 2025 | 4–4.7 million (World Bank/IOM/UNHCR)2 |
| 2025 full year | ~2.9 million (UNHCR recap); ~1.2m (66% at one count) were deportations8182 |
| June 2025 (Iran only) | >256,000 in a single month; 28,000+ on 25 June alone13 |
| Since Sept 2023 (Jan 2026) | >5.5 million83 |
| 2026 to 12 Sept | ~1.23 million (705,400 from Pakistan, 522,200 from Iran)82 |
| Remaining abroad | ~4.4–4.5m in Iran; ~1.7–3m in Pakistan8384 |
Disasters
| Event | Deaths |
|---|---|
| June 2022 Paktika/Khost earthquake | ~1,000+ |
| Oct 2023 Herat earthquakes (M6.3 ×4) | 1,482 (WHO)11 vs 2,053 (Taliban claim)85 |
| 31 Aug 2025 Kunar earthquake (M6.0) | 2,217 (Taliban figure); >4,000 injured;15 deadliest since 199886 |
| 2 Nov 2025 Balkh earthquake (M6.3) | 31 |
| Drought 2025–26 | 12 provinces severely affected, 3.4m people impacted (OCHA)80 |
AFM's Position
The dignity and safety of every person come first.
Research & References
Small numbers beside a figure link to its source. Figures from Taliban ministries are reported as claims and cannot be independently verified.
