UN Warns Humanitarian Crisis Is Taking Toll on Afghans’ Mental Health

DID Press: United Nations and research organization REACH have warned that persistent hunger, displacement and drought are intensifying psychological distress across Afghanistan, with children, women, older people and displaced communities facing heightened risks.

According to the latest assessment, 21.9 million people in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance in 2026, while 17.4 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity. Drought conditions across 12 provinces have also affected an estimated 3.4 million people.

The assessment said the return of more than 2.6 million Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 has placed additional pressure on essential services and host communities.

Humanitarian organizations have appealed for $1.71 billion in funding for 2026 to provide assistance to 17.5 million people across Afghanistan, warning that continued crises could deepen both humanitarian needs and mental health pressures.