Tag Archive for: Poverty in Afghanistan

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US Funding to Alleviate Poverty in Sudan and Afghanistan

Poverty in SudanOn May 14, 2026, the United States (U.S.) contributed $1.8 billion in funding to the United Nations (U.N.) to assist in its humanitarian aid efforts worldwide. According to the U.S. State Department, these funds will be mainly allocated toward those struggling from famine and natural disasters. This funding increase, along with the $2 billion the U.S. contributed in December 2025, will support local projects that assist the most vulnerable in 21 countries. Importantly, the increased funding will also help address ongoing challenges of famine and health care in Sudan and Afghanistan, both of which require more support to alleviate rising poverty rates.

Current Situation in Sudan and Afghanistan

In recent weeks, the U.N. has publicly called for more countries to contribute funding for Sudan and Afghanistan. On May 15, 2026, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued a report stating that 19.5 million people in Sudan, or 41% of the population, are struggling with high levels of food insecurity, including an estimated 825,000 children under 5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), approximately 28 million people in Afghanistan were living in poverty in 2025, a figure that has changed little in 2026. These individuals are struggling to afford food, housing and health care due to economic hardships. However, increased U.S. funding enables U.N. agencies to address these issues more effectively.

Ongoing Aid Projects in Sudan

The increased funding from the U.S. will help strengthen ongoing aid projects in Sudan that tackle issues related to poverty. For example, as of May 2026, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) runs the SANAD program, which has assisted over 182,000 household members in Sudan by providing them access to cash support and essential health care services. Additionally, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Sudan operates a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program that works to upgrade the water and sanitation infrastructure and distribute hygiene and cholera kits to prevent the spread of diseases and infections. Increased funding to the UN will enhance these programs that are already saving lives and will eventually contribute to ending the conflict in Sudan.

Basic Human Needs Programs in Afghanistan

The UN is currently running basic human needs programs (BHN) in Afghanistan that provide vulnerable communities access to essential services that can improve their quality of life. In 2025, BHN programs provided access to health care services to more than 34 million people struggling with urgent health conditions. Furthermore, the BHN programs have helped 4.6 million children deprived of schooling gain access to education. Since 2025, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing food rations and nutrition assistance to more than 12.4 million people in Afghanistan. Thus, the increased funding from the U.S. to the U.N. will empower its aid agencies to reach more vulnerable people in Afghanistan who urgently need food, health care and education.

Hope for the Most Vulnerable

The increased funding from the U.S. to the U.N. results from the passionate advocacy of the U.N. and its local partner organizations for vulnerable communities in Sudan and Afghanistan. In Sudan, the U.N. and the IRC have raised awareness of the millions who have accessed essential health care services, clean water, and food, as well as the millions still living in poverty. In Afghanistan, the U.N. and the WFP have highlighted the millions of children who have finally accessed education and nutrition assistance, while emphasizing that the work is far from over. This advocacy means millions of vulnerable women and children will now be able to study and eat healthy food, eventually leading to a higher quality of life for everyone.

– Abdullah Dowaihy

Abdullah is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Telemedicine: Health Care access for Afghan Women

Health Care access for Afghan WomenAfghanistan, a country beset by constant, unequivocal political unrest, faces a time of profound inequality. When the Taliban reasserted control over the country in August 2021, a cascade of reactions found the country’s health care system on the verge of collapse. In the first half of that year alone, Taliban forces attacked health care facilities, leaving 12 health care workers dead and damaging more than 25 buildings.

The impact on Afghan women has cut the deepest. Now lacking almost all fundamental rights, health care has taken a backseat. Not a single woman received screening for any cancer form and less than 10% received screening for sexually transmitted infections. Even where diagnosis is possible, treatment for these demographics remains virtually inaccessible. 

Barriers to Health Care Access for Afghan Women

These obstacles to health care access for Afghan women are not accidental but structural. The Taliban’s governance has systematically dismantled the conditions in which women can safely seek and receive medical attention. At the center of this is the Mahram Policy, which requires female health workers to be accompanied by a male guardian at all times outside the home.

On December 21, 2022, women were banned from working with NGOs nationwide, except in health care. Yet the requirement for them to be chaperoned now hinders their ability to provide and receive adequate health care. Even when women reach a facility, barriers persist; whether they would like to or not, male doctors can scarcely provide the necessary care except in life-threatening conditions. 

Additionally, medicines are in short supply and the financial burden of travel pushes families to impossible decisions, leading women to disregard their health and rely on traditional cures. 

The Organizations Still Showing Up

Despite the deteriorating environment, the international humanitarian response has been remarkable. In 2024 alone, nearly one million patients, 65% of whom were women and children, received primary care across 47 implemented health facilities. Alongside these infrastructural changes, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has upgraded equipment, improved staff competency and educated hospitals on mass-casualty incidents. 

Through expanding services into urban areas, organizations like the ICRC are pivotal in improving access to health care and alleviating difficult living conditions in Afghanistan. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has equally refused to retreat. Operating across eight provinces, MSF has seen the number of patients it treats double in the last three years. 

The organization prioritizes the most acute needs: emergency trauma care, maternal health and malnutrition. In 2024 alone, the organization admitted more than 400,000 emergency patients and assisted in more than 45,000 births. Despite attacks from the Taliban, the remaining feeding center and trauma facility in Kunduz have become vital for Afghanistan’s health care infrastructure.

What makes these organizations so significant is not just the scale of their operations but the conditions under which they persist. They hold together the health care system in a place of such turmoil, despite uncertain funding, restrictions on female staff and the collapse of broader public health systems. 

Telemedicine: A Bridge No Wall Can Close

Among the most promising developments for Afghanistan’s health care system is the expansion of telemedicine. When physical access is blocked by Taliban restrictions, a mobile phone may still get through. Telemedicine is being pursued by many organizations and charities, with evidence of its impact.

The Central Asia Health Systems Strengthening project connected seven tertiary care facilities with 14 secondary care facilities across the region. The project enabled more than 6,000 teleconsultations and delivered 52 e-learning sessions to more than 2,000 health staff. A tele-ICU service running from 2020 to 2023 provided the same number of teleconsultations to nearly 1,600 patients. 

This began as a response to COVID-19 before expanding into neonatal, pediatric and surgical critical care. Researchers found that increased consultation frequency was associated with reduced patient mortality, demonstrating clinical applicability. 

Arian Teleheal

Dr. Waheed Arian grew up in Afghanistan during the Soviet conflict, sheltering in cellars from rockets and bombs. Later, his family fled to Pakistan, where he contracted malaria and tuberculosis in a refugee camp. He arrived in the U.K. at 15 with $100 in his pocket, went on to study medicine at Cambridge and is now the founder of Arian Teleheal.

Founded in 2015, Arian Teleheal began by connecting Afghan hospitals to a global network of volunteer specialists via smartphones and tablets. As expensive medical systems are inaccessible to medics in these low-resource settings, this enables medical personnel and patients to receive appropriate care by being routed to a network of more than 150 international volunteers. The results have been unparalleled, with a three-year study finding that Arian Teleheal’s volunteers have helped care for thousands of patients. 

The organization has also since partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide emergency, mental health and psychosocial support to people in need across the globe.

Final Remarks

Initiatives such as these show great promise for those in need in Afghanistan, who face a health care system rocked by political repression, stripping the right to provide medical care freely. As humanitarian organizations struggle to fill the gap, telemedicine is emerging as a quiet revolution. Where Taliban restrictions try to block the door, a smartphone may still get through.

 – Juliette Dall’Aglio

Juliette is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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SDG 3 in Afghanistan: Health Gains and Persistent Barriers

SDG 3 in AfghanistanAfghanistan is still struggling to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for everyone. The country scores low on key health indicators and recent reports indicate that millions of people need humanitarian health support due to the system’s heavy strain. Years of conflict, economic problems and less international support have made Afghanistan’s health crisis worse. 

In 2024, Human Rights Watch said that big cuts in funding and technical help after the Taliban takeover have badly hurt the health care system, putting millions at higher risk of illness and poor care. These cuts have led to clinic closures and reduced services, leaving families with fewer treatment options. Even so, aid groups have kept some basic care going through emergency programs. 

Maternal and Child Health Remain Fragile

Maternal and child health is still one of the most urgent problems for SDG 3 in Afghanistan. Limits on women’s education and work in health care have made it harder to find female health workers. As a result, women and girls face more obstacles to accessing care, especially since many families already have trouble reaching clinics. 

In traditional areas, cultural rules mean women often need female providers, but there are even fewer now. This shortage puts women at greater risk during pregnancy and childbirth, when fast care can save lives. In 2025, UNICEF said that 14.3 million people in Afghanistan needed humanitarian health support and 857,000 children under 5 were expected to need treatment for severe malnutrition. 

The same report said that in May, more than seven million people got basic health services from UNICEF-supported clinics and mobile teams. These teams go to remote villages to give checkups, vaccines and nutrition support where regular clinics cannot reach. Their work helps improve child health and reduce deaths from preventable illnesses such as diarrhea and respiratory infections.

Aid Groups Address Service Gaps

Humanitarian groups still provide many of Afghanistan’s most important health services. UNICEF-supported clinics and mobile teams have helped families who might not otherwise receive care. Reports show these services are still vital for meeting urgent health needs. 

Groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) also supply medicines and train local staff to handle outbreaks and regular care. By focusing on primary health care, these groups help prevent small problems from becoming emergencies. Still, the overall health system is unstable. 

A 2025 report warned that closing health centers due to funding cuts has worsened the risks of disease and malnutrition. These shutdowns hit rural areas the hardest, where people already must travel far for care. Aid cannot fully replace public clinics, but it helps fill gaps when there is not enough funding or staff.

Other organizations, such as Médecins Sans Frontières, run hospitals in conflict zones and treat thousands of people for war injuries, infections and childbirth complications. Their teams often work in tents or damaged buildings, showing how aid can adapt to tough conditions. These efforts support SDG 3 by keeping emergency and basic care available when government services cannot.

Disease Prevention Remains Critical

Disease prevention is also an important part of SDG 3 in Afghanistan. UNICEF’s 2025 report found more cases of acute watery diarrhea and warned that Afghanistan is still at high risk for outbreaks. Poor sanitation, hard-to-reach clinics and malnutrition can quickly turn common illnesses into serious emergencies. Weak water systems and crowded living conditions make it easier for diseases like cholera to spread, especially in summer.

Due to these risks, public health work in Afghanistan focuses on both treatment and prevention. Vaccination campaigns, nutrition checks and mobile health services help reduce preventable deaths, especially among children under 5, who are still most at risk. Programs target diseases like measles, polio and pneumonia, which take many young lives each year. Community health workers also teach families about hygiene and warning signs, helping build local skills for lasting improvements.

Mental health support is now another important focus. Conflict and displacement have left many people with trauma and NGOs now offer counseling at community centers. This work supports SDG 3’s broader goal of well-being, as untreated stress can worsen physical health problems.

Concluding Remarks

Progress toward SDG 3 in Afghanistan has been uneven. The Sustainable Development Report 2025 tracks the country’s SDG results and health is still a major concern, even though there have been some small improvements in services. Vaccination rates have stayed steady in some provinces and more children are getting treatment for malnutrition than before. These steps show that targeted aid can make a difference during a crisis.

Even so, the ongoing work of aid groups and health workers offers hope for improvement. Millions of people are getting care through supported clinics, which is crucial in a country with a weak health system. For Afghanistan to achieve SDG 3, these short-term gains need to become a lasting system of care.

Stable funding, more trained female staff and better roads could turn fragile progress into lasting health security. Until then, humanitarian efforts remain the main support for SDG 3.

– Niaz Youssefian

Niaz is based in Cardiff, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project. 

Photo: Flickr

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How Agriculture in Afghanistan Helps Fight Poverty

Agriculture in AfghanistanAfghanistan is a country located between Central and South Asia. It has a tumultuous political history and returned to Taliban rule in August 2021. This seizure of power led to international funding for the country being cut. As instructed by donor governments, the World Bank canceled a payment of $2 billion that Afghanistan would have received through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). Previously, the country was almost fully dependent on foreign aid. As a result, this sudden cut in aid had devastating impacts on an already struggling population.

In 2019, only 52.9% of the population lived above the national poverty line. In 2023, 31% of the population faced severe food insecurity. In 2024, 13.7% of the labor force was unemployed, and nearly 70% of the population lacked access to safely managed drinking water services. Organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Afghanaid aim to improve agriculture in Afghanistan. Through these efforts, they seek to expand employment opportunities, improve food access and help empower local communities.

Agriculture as a Livelihood for Most Afghans

Climate change and natural disasters continue to harm food security and increase poverty in Afghanistan due to the country’s heavy reliance on agriculture. The sector serves as the main source of income for nearly 80% of the population. As a result, climate-related challenges such as drought can have significant economic consequences.

The ICRC and Afghanaid aim to mitigate these impacts by constructing and repairing irrigation systems. Irrigation, defined as the artificial application of water to land, is essential for agriculture in Afghanistan due to low rainfall and recurring drought conditions.

Irrigation Projects Improve Food Security and Employment

The work carried out by these organizations supports both crops and communities. In 2024, the ICRC supported more than 27,000 people through community-based initiatives focused on repairing irrigation systems. These efforts spanned 11 provinces and, while temporary, improved water supply for thousands of residents and made crops more viable, increasing food availability. A joint effort between the ICRC and the Afghan Red Crescent Society helped improve yields for up to 1,400 farmers. Increased production allowed farmers to sell crops beyond their immediate communities, generating broader economic benefits.

Afghanaid also worked to improve agriculture by supporting the construction of a 113-meter (approximately 370-foot) irrigation canal built by local residents. These canals help distribute water more effectively and reduce water loss through ground absorption. More than 2,000 people benefited from improved water access, which increased crop yields and household income. The project also created employment for 13 people during the construction phase.

Ensuring Long-Term Agricultural Sustainability

For these initiatives to have a lasting impact, agricultural practices in Afghanistan must be sustainable. The ICRC provides training to farmers on sustainable techniques. For example, 200 farmers in Kapisa province received training on reducing post-harvest crop loss and were provided with silos for improved storage. In Paryan district, 80 farmers were trained to promote good agronomic practices and raise awareness about climate and environmental risks.

Before these interventions, irrigation systems in Afghanistan often suffered damage due to ongoing conflict. As a result, Afghanaid also focuses on conflict resolution to help protect newly built canals. The organization established a Community Conflict Mitigation Committee made up of eight local residents trained in de-escalation and conflict prevention techniques. When disputes arise, committee members work to diffuse tensions and promote dialogue and cooperation.

– Ryan Cowen

Ryan is based in Brighton, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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GPEI Funding: $1.9 Billion Toward the Fight Against Polio

Fight Against PolioPoliovirus is a highly infectious viral disease that attacks the nervous system and could lead to paralysis or even death, mainly affecting children. Today, the virus mainly affects Afghanistan and Pakistan, along with other developing nations. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance that works to eradicate polio completely.

On December 8, 2025, it was announced that political leaders had collectively pledged $1.9 billion to the GPEI. In the fight against Polio, this generous fund has the potential to protect hundreds of millions of children from polio each year and possibly eradicate the virus.

How Polio Affects the World Today

Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where vaccines have not eliminated wild poliovirus. Other developing nations with low immunization rates continue to experience outbreaks of virus variants. This year, there have been 39 paralysis cases across Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Although polio cases are currently rare, “failure to stop polio in these last remaining areas could result in a global resurgence of the disease.” It is important to eradicate this virus in order to prevent it from spreading once again. Efforts have come very close to eradication and the recent GPEI funding will help bring the world even closer to this goal.

Successes in the Fight Against Polio

The GPEI was established in 1988 with the goal of ensuring that every child receives a polio vaccination. Since then, polio cases have dropped by 99% and vaccines have prevented approximately 20 million cases of paralysis. The virus once affected thousands of children across more than 100 countries but has now been eliminated in all except two, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where only a handful of cases occur each year.

About the Funds Against Polio

Pledges to the GPEI came from multiple donors, including:

  • $1.2 billion from the Gates Foundation
  • $450 million from Rotary International
  • $140 million from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity
  • $100 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies
  • $154 million from Pakistan
  • $62 million from Germany
  • $46 million from the United States
  • $6 million from Japan
  • $4 million from the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)
  • $3 million from Luxembourg

These funds will help protect 370 million children from polio through vaccination and reduce GPEI’s remaining resource gap. The shortage of vaccines and resources is a key reason polio still persists. With this recent funding, the complete eradication of poliovirus could become achievable.

– Renata Hirmiz

Renata is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How are the USAID cuts impacting Afghan girls and women?

Afghan girls and womenThe dissolution of the USAID was a devastating blow to global humanitarian efforts. It hit Afghanistan particularly hard, where the funding supported vital programs, including education and health. It made the consequences even harsher for Afghan girls and women, for whom the suspended funding only exacerbated their vulnerability.

USAID

An independent agency of the government, USAID, was the primary organization which, over the decades, delivered tens of billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance. Between 2014 and 2023, USAID’s top sectors of assistance were Health, at $80.7 billion, and Humanitarian Assistance, at $65.1 billion.

Since its establishment, USAID has helped save millions of lives through diverse programs. This includes war relief in Ukraine, improving maternal and child health, running HIV prevention programs that saved the lives of more than 25 million, and providing support during the humanitarian crisis in Congo.

In March 2025, the Trump administration announced that it would eliminate 83% of USAID programs. Of the 6,200 global programs, close to 5,200 were cancelled, while the remaining would be taken over by the State Department.

Helping Afghanistan

The United States of America, through USAID, has been the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan since 2013. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in 2024 alone, the U.S. funded more than $700 million in humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, which accounted for 45.6% of the country’s total aid. With the aid Afghanistan received that year, more than 20 million people received assistance and support, with women making up 29%.

In 2025, the U.S. suspended $562 million in remaining aid to Afghanistan. This impacted programs that supported education, healthcare, and famine preparedness. It severely affected women, as the government had already curtailed their freedoms.

Education

Soon after the Taliban took control of the government in Afghanistan, it suspended education for girls and women beyond primary school, making Afghanistan the only country in the world to restrict female secondary and higher education. It banned more than 2 million girls and women from receiving education. According to UNESCO, by 2066, this could result in estimated losses of almost $10 billion, a figure amounting to two-thirds of the country’s present GDP. This could risk driving more people into poverty.

USAID cuts have disrupted funding that attempted to tackle the inaccessibility to education through online and underground programs for Afghan girls and women. The cuts also led to the termination of scholarships of more than 80 girls from Afghanistan who were studying in Oman. Despite a reprieve, their future remained uncertain, filling them with dread.

Health

Following the cuts, out of 900 UNFPA-supported clinics in Afghanistan, it may no longer be possible to support 500 of them.

Every two hours, a woman in Afghanistan dies from pregnancy, childbirth or related complications, most of which are preventable with skilled healthcare. The country has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, and the funding would have been used to run these clinics, provide psychosocial support, family health services and mobile care. The cuts will therefore impact 6.9 million women and children in Afghanistan.

Food Insecurity

The funding cuts have also eliminated food aid, affecting famine-prevention programs and leaving millions without support. While the United States resumed global food aid, it did not do so in two countries, including Afghanistan. The women and children there, who already bear the brunt of the hunger crisis, face an added risk of malnutrition, illness and death. While women-headed households are already facing difficulties, two-thirds cannot meet the cost of basic food needs, a statistic 20% higher than that for male-headed households. In response, women have been forced to resort to dangerous strategies to survive, some of which include seeking cash handouts or arranging marriages for their young daughters.

Looking ahead

While USAID cuts have been a devastating blow to women’s socioeconomic conditions in Afghanistan, other initiatives continue to work to support and empower Afghan women and girls.

U.N. Women Afghanistan and the Government of Japan have launched a notable initiative to strengthen women’s leadership and resilience in Afghanistan. It aimed to reach over 25,000 people by directly supporting 3,700 women. The program equips women with resources and opportunities to not only improve their own livelihoods but also to build a sustainable future for their communities. Running for one year, it would increase women’s access to finance and technology.

UNDP also continues to provide a lifeline for 8 million women, with its core funding exhibiting long-term results. A $4 million seed investment in 2024 enabled more than $34 million in additional funding to support nearly 80,000 female-led micro and small businesses, create almost 400,000 jobs, and positively impact over 2.7 million people. Some of the initiatives taken include developing women’s digital skills, providing solar power, implementing microcredit programs, and enhancing their financial literacy, among others. Through these efforts, the UNDP has fostered women’s entrepreneurship in Afghanistan, helping women achieve economic independence.

– Priya Doshi

Priya is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Maternal and Child Malnutrition in Afghanistan

Malnutrition in AfghanistanWith more than 15 million people in Afghanistan experiencing acute food insecurity, women and children are facing the brunt of this harsh reality. Afghanistan is among the most dangerous countries for babies, children and mothers, with soaring rates of malnutrition and access to health care beyond reach for many.

Causes of the Afghan Food Crisis

The high levels of food instability in Afghanistan are driven primarily by a fragile economy, exacerbated by sociopolitical turmoil and environmental disasters. These disasters have recently had an especially severe impact on food security, as about 80% of Afghanistan’s population consists of farmers who rely on their own production for sustenance and income. Because of environmental instability, harvests are often lost or missed due to displacement, leaving markets empty.

Social mores and low health literacy also hinder women’s access to and understanding of proper nutrition for themselves and their children. Taliban restrictions on women’s education and mobility have severely curtailed their access to care. Additionally, increased poverty means that many women, especially pregnant women, are unable to utilize health care services such as perinatal visits.

Women are also unable to travel without being escorted by a male relative, hindering their access to pre- and postnatal care. The systematic stripping of women’s autonomy in Afghanistan means that malnutrition is having disastrous consequences for pregnant women, mothers and their children. On top of these, donor funding and NGO intervention were cut following the Taliban takeover in 2021, as Taliban policies limited how much donors were willing to help.

Health Care System

Afghanistan’s health care system is highly reliant on foreign aid. When this abruptly stopped in 2021, preventative education and care for those malnourished ceased, affecting women and children the most. Sanctions were imposed on the Taliban government, further restricting Afghan citizens’ access to food and medical supplies.

This crisis has been exacerbated by Afghanistan’s largest donor, the U.S., halting nearly all aid earlier this year. John Aylieff, the WFP’s country director, underscored the impact of these cuts, stating, “Food assistance kept a lid on this country hunger and malnutrition… The lid has now been lifted. The soaring of malnutrition is placing the lives of more than three million children in peril.”

Consequences of Malnutrition for Mothers and Their Children

The year began in Afghanistan with one of the highest recorded increases in child malnutrition, with only 12% of children aged 6 to 24 months receiving adequate quantities and quality of food. The food crisis also has a deeply gendered dimension. According to UNICEF, women are disproportionately affected and the gender gap in food access continues to widen.

Women’s and girls’ health is crucial to infants’ health, as malnutrition creates an intergenerational cycle. When women lack adequate nutrition, rates of undernourished children rise, with devastating consequences for growth and learning. According to the U.N., nearly half of all Afghan children are stunted due to limited diets.

Since the Taliban takeover, the situation has only continued to worsen and new insights have come forth in a report by Johns Hopkins titled “The Crisis of Maternal and Child Health in Afghanistan.” One third of the health professionals interviewed have perceived that infant and maternal mortality have increased. Another lamented that women in labor or those with sick children do not come to clinics for lack of money or fears of the Taliban.

The rise in child mortality is visible across Afghanistan. At the Sheidaee graveyard, BBC journalists counted graves with no official records. They found that roughly two-thirds belonged to children. They also visited the malnutrition ward of Badakhshan Regional Hospital, where 26 children shared 12 beds.

The youngest patient, Sana, was only three months old and suffered from malnutrition, acute diarrhea and a cleft lip. When journalists followed up with her family, they learned that Sana had sadly passed away.

What Is Being Done?

Despite this, there has been a shift toward community-based prevention efforts to aid malnutrition in women and children. In August this year, UNICEF and the WFP launched a joint plan to stop child wasting in Afghanistan. This action reinforces the importance of maternal nutrition, local food solutions and the convergence of community-based services.

What is evident here is a renewed push to address the root causes of malnutrition. They have pledged to ensure malnourished children receive treatment and help break the intergenerational cycle by improving breastfeeding practices and nutrition education. The WFP has also offered women safe spaces through its skills training and livelihood programs, which offer women the opportunity to earn an income and build a community.

While there have been significant strides to address malnutrition in Afghanistan, aid is under constant threat of being slashed due to funding cuts. As UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell commented, “When a girl or woman does not get adequate nutrition, gender inequality is perpetuated.” A well-balanced diet is the bedrock of child survival, so it is integral that life-saving support is directed to those who need it most.

– Libby Foxwell

Libby is based in Sherborne, Dorset and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Lifting Hands International: Aiding Refugees from Afghanistan

Lifting Hands InternationalAfghanistan, a country located between Central and South Asia and with a population of 42.65 million, has faced more than 40 years of conflict and instability. This has led to a refugee and displacement crisis with many Afghans in desperate need of humanitarian support. However, whilst the refugee crisis is incredibly concerning, many organisations such as Lifting Hands International are actively aiding refugees from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Refugee Crisis

Afghanistan has a long history of conflict; however, that is not the only cause of the refugee crisis, but just one contributing factor. UNHCR states that other causes of the prolonged crisis are ‘natural disasters, chronic poverty, food insecurity, COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently a changeover in government authorities’. The complex and intertwined causes of the displacement of Afghans can, therefore, account for the scale of the crisis. The U.N. reported that 10.3 million Afghans are still facing displacement both within their country and globally, with 5.8 million Afghans displaced around the world.

Iran and Pakistan

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan are the two countries with the largest number of Afghan refugees, with Iran hosting 3.5 million and Pakistan hosting 1.6 million, according to UNHCR. However, whilst these countries have accommodated displaced Afghans over the decades-long period of violence and instability, the recent efforts by the UNHCR in Iran and Pakistan, aiming to aid refugees from Afghanistan by enabling them to return home voluntarily, saw the number of Afghan refugees decrease by 10% at the end of last year.

However, as the World Bank reported in April this year, despite Afghanistan’s economy increasing by 2.5% in 2024, the return of refugees has increased the strain on an already fragile economy. Afghanistan’s high unemployment rates have led to increased food insecurity, with 14.8 million people suffering food shortages. Therefore, whilst aiding refugees from Afghanistan in returning home is important work, it is also key to continue to focus on supporting refugees in their host country as not to contribute to instability in Afghanistan.

Lifting Hands International

Lifting Hands International is a charity that has been providing aid to refugees around the world since 2016. After the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, the U.S. government launched the program, Operation Allies Welcome, to resettle Afghan refugees in the U.S. However, the housing items needed for Afghans to transition into residential housing, if not donated, comes out of their small stipend. Therefore, Lifting Hands International partnered with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to support their resettlement, providing groceries, school supplies, beds, and handmade quilts.

Furthermore, in addition to aiding refugees from Afghanistan in the U.S., Lifting Hands International also provides vital support to those suffering displacement within Afghanistan who often have to travel long distances to get water and suffer severe food insecurity as well. Lifting Hands International tackles this crisis by distributing essential aid supplies to the internally displaced, with a total of 9,045,218 aid items distributed across all of their programs.

Looking Forward

Whilst the refugee crisis is incredibly concerning, the many initiatives and charities dedicated to aiding refugees from Afghanistan are doing incredible work at eradicating the suffering of those displaced both within the country and globally. Continued advocacy and support for these charities is, therefore, essential in tackling the crisis.

– Victoria Adrados

Victoria is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Being Poor in Afghanistan

Being Poor in AfghanistanImagine receiving the only nutritious meal of the day at school, or a mother finally having access to a skilled birth attendant after walking miles to reach a mobile health clinic. For millions of Afghans, these scenarios represent not just hope, but the tangible reality of one of the world’s most successful humanitarian responses.

Being poor in Afghanistan has reached unprecedented levels, with 64.9% of the population now living in multidimensional poverty and 85% surviving on less than one dollar per day. An estimated 15.8 million people face acute food insecurity, while 23.7 million people require humanitarian assistance to survive. Despite these overwhelming challenges and being poor in Afghanistan becoming increasingly widespread, international organizations created an unprecedented network of support that reached 22.4 million Afghans in 2024.

Revolutionary Food Programs Transform Lives

The World Food Programme (WFP) revolutionized food assistance in Afghanistan, reaching 11.8 million people through a groundbreaking approach that stimulates local economies while fighting hunger. Rather than simply distributing food, 42% of the 1.3 million monthly beneficiaries receive cash-based transfers, allowing families to purchase goods from local vendors and inject vital resources directly into Afghan communities.

The program’s school feeding initiative provides children their only nutritious meal each day. School feeding activities create powerful incentives for families to keep children in school with positive impacts on school participation and learning that help break cycles of poverty through education.

Medical Miracles in Remote Regions

Doctors Without Borders pioneered mobile health care solutions, bringing advanced medical care directly to Afghanistan’s most isolated communities. In 2023, the organization performed 15,200 surgical interventions and assisted 45,260 deliveries across nine projects in eight provinces, maintaining 130 to 200% bed occupancy rates due to overwhelming demand.

The organization’s teams extend life-saving medical services to populations who previously had no access to professional care, with very high bed occupancy rates, sometimes with two or even three patients sharing one bed due to overwhelming demand. More than 50% of MSF’s medical staff are women, creating culturally appropriate care that dramatically improved maternal and child health outcomes.

Children’s Health Revolution Shows Dramatic Results

UNICEF achieved remarkable success protecting Afghan children through comprehensive health and education programs. In 2024, humanitarian efforts expanded to treat 2.9 million acutely malnourished children and pregnant women, representing a significant increase from 2.2 million in 2023. The organization vaccinated 704,002 children against measles and treated 272,791 children for severe wasting in the first half of 2024.

Health care access has expanded significantly with 11.6 million people receiving primary health care services by 2023, up from 7.9 million in 2021. This is driven by the increase in humanitarian health facilities from 422 in January 2022 to 908 in December 2023.

International Commitment Drives Innovation

Major international donors maintained their commitment despite global economic challenges. The United States provided $280 million to WFP in 2024 through USAID, enabling the organization to support more than 3 million people with life-saving food assistance. The United Kingdom reached 2,715,000 people with humanitarian assistance, including water and sanitation, food, nutrition, health and cash transfers between April 2024 and March 2025.

The transformation occurring across Afghanistan proves that even in the world’s most challenging environments, coordinated humanitarian action can deliver extraordinary results. Through innovative programming, local partnerships and sustained international commitment, organizations are building foundations for long-term recovery while showing that with creativity, dedication and adequate resources, no community is beyond help. However, severe funding gaps remain, with only 31.4% of the required $3.06 billion received by October 2024.

Despite these challenges, the fact that humanitarian organizations reached 22.4 million people in 2024 demonstrates what is possible when the international community works together to address the crisis of being poor in Afghanistan.

– Jawad Noori

Jawad is based in London, UK, and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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A Hard Look at Food and Water Scarcity in Afghanistan

Water Scarcity in AfghanistanFor many years, millions of people in Afghanistan have been facing severe levels of food insecurity compounded by critical water scarcity. Despite improvements in the winter season of 2021-2022, the crisis has remained mostly stagnant.

This results from drought, flash floods, dependence on other nations and damaged or insufficient infrastructure.

Water Scarcity

Afghanistan has been in the midst of a crippling drought since 2021. As of March, it’s estimated that 33 million Afghans do not have reliable access to water, according to the Red Cross. In 2023, 25 out of 34 provinces in Afghanistan were experiencing drastic water scarcity due to drought conditions. Similarly, UNICEF has reported that 80% of Afghans drink from unsafe, unregulated sources.

About 93% of children in Afghanistan reside in areas with high water vulnerability. The primary water source for Afghans is wells, of which there are more than 310,000. Mercy Corps has also reported an additional 120,000 borewells in and around Kabul alone. However, many of these wells have become unreliable. As of 2023, nearly half of Kabul’s borewells have run completely dry, while the remaining operable ones are deficient, retaining only 60% of their capacity.

In addition, Al Jazeera reports that “up to 80% of groundwater [in Kabul] is believed to be unsafe, with high levels of sewage, arsenic and salinity.” Furthermore, according to the U.N., in early 2024, many of the country’s northern and eastern regions experienced only 45–60% of the average precipitation. Mercy Corps reported that “Kabul’s aquifer levels have plummeted 25–30 meters in the past decade, with extraction exceeding natural recharge by a staggering 44 million cubic meters annually.”

By 2030, Kabul is predicted to become the first major city in the world to completely deplete its water sources, leaving six million people in dire need. However, there have been initiatives to combat this nationwide issue. In 2024, the Red Cross reported that its efforts to rebuild infrastructure in urban areas such as Kabul, Herat and Kandahar improved access to water for more than 1.1 million people. It also repaired more than 1,300 pumps and supplied villages with more than 1,800 sand filters, ultimately helping more than 275,000 Afghans. In May, the U.N. allocated $16.6 million to the Afghan government to help reduce the effects of drought in the north and northeastern regions.

Food Insecurity

As of 2023, 45% of Afghans were employed in the agricultural sector. However, flash floods, drought, earthquakes and poor infrastructure have proven catastrophic to crop yields, further worsening the nation’s dwindling food supply. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, as of April, an estimated 12.6 million Afghans were experiencing high levels of food insecurity. This is more than a quarter of the population. Of this group, 10.6 million were classified as emergency cases, while 1.95 million were in the crisis category.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 4.7 million women and children in Afghanistan currently need treatment for malnutrition. UNICEF also reports that one in three adolescent girls is anemic and only 12% of children aged 6–24 months receive the appropriate variety of nutrition for their age. This issue has been exacerbated by recent earthquakes, which have put 37,000 children at even greater risk.

The U.N. has also reported that “desertification has affected more than 75% of the total land area in the country’s northern, western and southern regions, reducing vegetation cover for pasture, accelerating land degradation and affecting crop farming in the last four decades.” Furthermore, the WFP was forced to halt aid distribution in May due to funding shortfalls. The nonprofit also stated that more than $560 million would be needed to continue its efforts.

However, UNICEF still provides aid. As of 2024, it reported supplying more than 62,000 families with micronutrient powder to combat malnutrition, with that number continuing to rise into this year. The organization also supports pregnant and lactating women, as well as children, in 34 regions. In total, UNICEF said it helped more than 630,000 children combat malnutrition in 2024 alone.

– Owen Armentrout

Owen is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels