Five Years On, Afghanistan Is Still in Survival Mode

Five years after the Taliban returned to Kabul, Afghanistan is no longer facing the same nationwide war that defined much of the previous two decades. Yet for millions of Afghans, the end of large-scale conflict has not translated into a life of security or dignity.

 Hunger, poverty, weak healthcare and restrictions on women continue to shape everyday life. United Nations reporting has repeatedly highlighted the scale of Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs, and the crisis remains far from resolved.

Food insecurity remains one of the clearest indicators of the crisis.

• In 2026, an estimated 17.4 million Afghans are projected to face acute food insecurity, including 4.7 million people experiencing emergency levels of hunger.

The problem is particularly severe among children: millions are facing acute malnutrition. Drought, economic pressures, displacement and repeated natural disasters continue to undermine households’ ability to produce or afford food.

Afghanistan’s economic figures present an equally complicated picture. The economy grew by an estimated 4.8% in 2025, but GDP per capita fell by 5.6%, while poverty and unemployment remain widespread.

 Nearly one in four young Afghans is unemployed. Humanitarian assistance continues to act as a lifeline for millions, demonstrating that economic growth has yet to translate into broad-based prosperity.

 The World Bank similarly notes that the 2021 transition caused a sharp economic contraction, reduced aid disrupted demand and public services, and Afghanistan lost access to important parts of the international banking system.

 Afghanistan’s healthcare system remains heavily dependent on international support and foreign aid  while restrictions on women and girls have complicated access to healthcare and weakened the future supply of female medical professionals.

 Maternal health remains particularly concerning: the United Nations reported in 2026 that Afghanistan’s maternal mortality rate stood at 521 deaths per 100,000 live births. Although access to antenatal care and skilled birth attendance has improved over the longer term, preventable complications continue to claim mothers’ lives.

Women and girls face an additional layer of humanitarian vulnerability. Girls remain excluded from secondary and higher education, while women face restrictions on employment, movement and participation in public life.  The women are not allowed to move without their mehram.

The consequences extend beyond individual rights. Limiting women’s education and employment also reduces household income, weakens economic participation and restricts the development of female health professionals.

The growing dependence on humanitarian assistance raises another question that  how sustainable is a system that repeatedly responds to emergency without resolving the conditions that produce vulnerability.

 UN reporting continues to call for both immediate assistance and longer-term investment in livelihoods, healthcare, education and resilience. In 2026, the United Nations also warned that the return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries  such as Pakistan has deported millions of afghan refugee in recent years it  could deepen poverty and place additional pressure on already limited services.

Five years on, therefore, Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis should not be measured only by the absence of war.As the development and growth is not attained by preserving the sovereignty and freedom, it also depends on the strong civil institutions and well being of people.

 Without sustainable livelihoods, functioning public services, inclusive participation and consistent international support, humanitarian relief can only manage the symptoms of a crisis that remains deeply rooted.