Afghanistan

45% of the population needs humanitarian assistance

15.9 million people in need of assistance in terms of access to water, hygiene, and sanitation

17.4 million people expected to face acute food insecurity during the lean season

220,407 people assisted

Nearly five years after the Taliban seized power, Afghanistan remains deeply scarred by the combined effects of the consequences of the previous conflicts and the consequences of climate change.

Women and girls, facing severe restrictions limiting their access to education, healthcare, employment, and public life, are among the most vulnerable groups.

The humanitarian situation remains extremely worrying. The increase in poverty, ongoing international sanctions, dysfunctional education and healthcare systems, deteriorating livelihoods, and growing climate hazards are seriously undermining the population’s resilience. These challenges have been further exacerbated by the return of over 2.6 million Afghans since January 2025, putting additional pressure on an already fragile economy and overstretched public services and infrastructure. The decline in rainfall, coupled with falling groundwater levels, is having potentially irreversible consequences. This includes the mass displacement of populations who are unable to access adequate water resources or sustain an agricultural livelihood, as well as the resurgence of waterborne diseases, disproportionately affecting children and pregnant women.

As a result, according to the latest United Nations estimates, nearly 21.9 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2026, representing almost half of Afghanistan’s population. Among them, 17.4 million people will need food and livelihood support, and 15.9 million will be in need of water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) support.

44.3 million inhabitants
180th out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index

Mission
opened in 1980, 2021
Team 9 international staff
110 national staff
Budget 3.5M€

In 2025, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL strengthened its response to the multiple crises affecting Afghanistan by combining emergency interventions and longer-term programming. Among the major challenges are the massive influx of returnees from Iran and Pakistan, the consequences of climate change (water scarcity, floods) and the increase in waterborne diseases.

To address these challenges, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL worked to improve access to safe drinking water for communities living in remote and hard-to-reach areas, which are often characterized by arid or mountainous conditions. Ensuring also that vulnerable populations, particularly women, have access to hygiene items and adequate sanitation facilities, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL contributed to ensure protection and prevented the spread of waterborne diseases.

In parallel, as part of its efforts to strengthen community resilience, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL supported the most vulnerable households, particularly women, by providing them with climate-adaptive income-generating activities such as running a tree nursery and kitchen gardening. In addition, the NGO supported the construction of disaster risk reduction infrastructure, helping to mitigate the impact of future shocks.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL provided emergency WASH support at border crossing points to address the urgent needs of people deported from Iran. At the same time, the NGO implemented an emergency WASH response to cholera outbreaks in the central region, at both health-centre and community levels.

Finally, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL ensured that all its activities are inclusive and accessible, with particular attention to women and people with disabilities. This commitment is reflected in partnerships developed with national and international NGOs, bringing specialized expertise in inclusive and rights-based approaches.

Partners

Institutional and private funding partners ECHO, Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF), Centre de Crise et de Soutien (CDCS)

Operating partners Rural Movement Organization (RMO), Women Cooperation for Development (WCOD), Save the Children (SCI), Humanite et Inclusion (HI), INTERSOS