Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan

In 2023, Afghanistan experienced one of the worst economic collapses in its history, turning into a severe humanitarian crisis affecting millions. After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, most international aid was cut off, foreign assets were frozen, and banking restrictions pushed the economy into near-total shutdown. By 2023, unemployment soared, prices of food and fuel doubled, and families struggled to afford basic necessities. The United Nations reported that over 28 million Afghans—more than half the population—needed urgent humanitarian assistance, including food, clean water, medical care, and shelter. Many children suffered from acute malnutrition, and hospitals lacked essential medicines. Women’s bans from workplaces worsened the situation, reducing household income and weakening the health and education sectors. Drought in many regions also destroyed crops, leaving rural communities hungry and desperate. Despite efforts by international organizations to provide aid, the scale of the crisis remained overwhelming, making 2023 one of Afghanistan’s hardest years in decades.