16 Million People in Afghanistan Need Urgent Water and Sanitation Aid in 2026
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that around 16 million people in Afghanistan will require immediate assistance to access safe water and personal hygiene services in 2026. This figure highlights the widespread water and sanitation crisis across the country.
OCHA’s Afghanistan office warned on Monday, June 22, in a social media statement on X that as water becomes scarce, daily life for people is undergoing serious changes. The agency emphasized that the water shortage places direct pressure on families and communities.
According to OCHA, in conditions of water scarcity, families are forced to work harder to find safe water, children face increased health risks, and local communities struggle to adapt to the current situation. This circumstance is particularly concerning in many areas of the country already grappling with poverty and a lack of basic services.
The aid needed includes providing safe drinking water, access to adequate sanitation services, and safe wastewater disposal — services collectively referred to as WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) in humanitarian contexts.
Previously, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that between 15 and 16 million people in Afghanistan lack access to clean drinking water, 9.4 million are deprived of adequate sanitation, and 15 million do not have sufficient access to water and soap for personal hygiene.
This ongoing crisis persists amid the Taliban administration’s failure to effectively strengthen basic water and sanitation infrastructure. Citizens, especially those living in remote areas, continue to face daily hardships and health threats as a result.
