Context

After more than four decades of instability and the drastic political change of August 2021, Afghanistan continues to experience one of the most serious and complex humanitarian crises globally. Although there is no longer a large-scale conflict, the country is still far from being safe and stable and remains in a state of extreme structural fragility: in 2025, around 22.9 million people — almost half the population — require assistance for basic survival. This situation is fuelled by a combination of economic sanctions, a chronic lack of livelihood opportunities and an extremely precarious public service system, which limits access to healthcare, nutrition and drinking water, especially in rural and remote areas.

A central element of the crisis in 2025 is the regional dimension of migration flows. The country has had to absorb the return of over 5 million Afghan citizens from neighbouring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan; of these, as many as 2.9 million have returned in the last year, often following forced expulsions. This demographic pressure weighs heavily on local communities and border services, which are already stretched beyond their limits. Against this backdrop, protection risks remain extremely high: women and girls face severe restrictions on their freedom of movement and access to secondary and higher education, with their participation in public life drastically reduced. At the same time, children remain exposed to serious dangers, including child labour, early marriage and the persistent threat of unexploded ordnance that still contaminates vast areas of the country.

INTERSOS’ intervention

In 2025, INTERSOS consolidated its presence in seven provinces of Afghanistan (Kabul, Zabul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Helmand, Nimruz and Herat), managing a network of 50 Basic Health Centres and semi-mobile teams. The intervention focused on providing integrated services in remote and underserved areas, where the organisation is often the only humanitarian presence available to the most vulnerable populations, including women, children and people with disabilities.

The Health and Nutrition sector remained the cornerstone of operations. Through its own facilities, INTERSOS provided outpatient consultations, maternal and neonatal care, vaccinations and treatment for acute malnutrition. Particular attention was paid to women and breastfeeding mothers, facilitating access to life-saving care in contexts characterised by severe restrictions on movement and prohibitive transport costs. In parallel, in the Protection sector, the organisation provided individual case management, psychosocial support and legal assistance, creating safe spaces for children and support pathways for survivors of violence and abuse.

INTERSOS’s commitment has also extended to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and responding to climate emergencies. In the provinces of Kabul and Herat, activities were implemented to improve community resilience in the face of floods, droughts and extreme winters. The response to poverty was supported by the distribution of hygiene and essential items kits, as well as financial assistance programmes. A specific focus has been placed on the millions of Afghan citizens who have been forced to return from Pakistan and Iran: at transit points and in resettlement areas, INTERSOS has provided immediate medical care and protection support, supplying the essential tools for rebuilding lives in an extremely fragile context.