Key Developments

The UN estimates that two-thirds of Afghanistan's population will require humanitarian assistance in 2023, representing a 16 percent increase from 2022.

Humanitarian operations in Afghanistan remain restricted due to Taliban interference, including the recent edict barring Afghan female NGO staff.

Nine out of 10 households surveyed across Afghanistan reported insufficient access to food during November 2022, with food access expected to further decline in the coming months.

Security conditions continue to deteriorate in urban areas, with ISIS-K carrying out three attacks in Kabul during December and early January.

Background

Ongoing insecurity and frequent natural disasters continue to displace populations and generate humanitarian needs throughout Afghanistan. The UN estimates that more than 4.9 million people remain in protracted displacement in Afghanistan, while natural disasters, such as avalanches and floods, affect approximately 250,000 Afghans each year. In 2021, drought and the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are further exacerbating humanitarian needs.

The Taliban seized Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul on August 15, 2021, following the successive capture of several provincial capitals and territory in early August. Following the collapse of the Government of Afghanistan, economic and political instability has resulted in the deterioration of basic service provision across the country, increased prices of staple foods and fuel, reduced household purchasing power, and other developments that constrain the ability of Afghan households to meet basic needs.