Johanniter in Afghanistan

Why we are on site

Afghanistan has been marked by violent conflict and political instability for several decades. Clashes between state security forces and armed groups have left their mark: sowing deep fear and insecurity among the population. People have been displaced, especially from remote regions of the country. The affected communities are mostly cut off from national institutions and international aid.

Afghanistan will remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, despite a modest decrease in the total number of people in need. Years of conflict, economic fragility, underinvestment in basic services, and erosion of rights have left large segments of the population with severely reduced resilience.

These chronic pressures are now worsened by food insecurity, large-scale cross-border returns, climate-driven drought, recurring natural hazards, and the systematic exclusion of women and girls from public life. In 2026, an estimated 21.9 million people—about 45% of the population—will require humanitarian assistance, reflecting the combined impact of overlapping shocks and deep structural vulnerability.

Women and girls remain among the most severely affected population. Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth, with an estimated maternal mortality ratio of 638 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024 (UN OCHA 2026).

What we achieve together with our partner organisations

Johanniter International has been supporting the people of Afghanistan since 2002. Together with our local partner organizations HADDAF and OHW, we are working in Kabul's informal settlements to ensure functioning health care and access to adequate water supplies and sanitation facilities. On the border with Pakistan, we support refugees and host communities in the health sector and provide psychosocial assistance. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, and people with disabilities are the focus of our project activities.