Hillside erosion threatens an orchard in Northeastern Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Why are we in Afghanistan? Concern has worked in Afghanistan since responding to a major earthquake in 1998. Today, Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies. Recent political, social and economic shocks have resulted in a massive deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

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A food crisis, born of instability

After decades of war, corruption, and natural disasters, Afghans are especially vulnerable to social and economic upheaval.

According to the United Nations, an estimated 21.9 million people — or 45% or Afghanistan's population — will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. Food insecurity is also a major concern, with 17.4 million people projected to face acute food insecurity in 2026.

Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, which is causing widespread droughts, affecting harvests and incomes. Women and young children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, which is increasing, with 25% more women and children expected to need treatment for malnutrition in 2026 than in 2025. Malnutrition, combined with limited access to healthcare in remote areas, leads to one woman dying every two hours, and one of the highest infant death rates in the world.

Latest achievements

Health and Nutrition

In 2025, through the establishment and operationalisation of Family Health House clinics in some of the most remote locations, Concern expanded access to maternal, newborn and child health services.

Emergency response

Inclusive livelihoods

A girl helps top sell food produced by a Concern supported Self-Help group in Afghanistan.

Self Help Group, Kalafgan. Ozma assists the vegetable production group. Photo: Nava Jamshidi/Concern Worldwide

A young boy helps his mother on their farm in Afghanistan.

Sajidah works alongside the families on the farm in Farkhar. Women farmers are supported to scale up their agro businesses. Photo: Nava Jamshidi/Concern Worldwide

Afghans walk past houses damaged by earthquakes in Kunar province, in Eastern Afghanistan, on September 1, 2025. Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images

Two farmers in Afganistan stand beside trees growing in the newly irrigated land surrounding their village.

Mohammad Asef and Ebrahim. Their community in Chahab are part of a project which irrigates the surrounding dry areas of flood prone areas through a newly created water supply and protects villages against potential floods. Photo: Nava Jamshidi/Concern Worldwide

Members of the Self-Help Group in Kalafgan are supported in the production of vegetables. Photo: Nava Jamshidi/Concern Worldwide

Mohammad Aman is a participant in Concern's livelihood project in his village in Chahab. As an orchard owner he received a solar fruit-drying machine. Photo: Nava Jamshidi/Concern Worldwide.

Khan BiBi is a participant in Concern's weaving project, locally known as "Razgha Bafi" in her village in Chahab. Photo: Nava Jamshidi/Concern Worldwide

How we're helping Afghanistan

We respond rapidly to emergencies, but we also build resilience so that communities are better prepared to withstand the shocks caused by climate change and on-going conflict. A commitment to social inclusion and gender equality is central to our work.