The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Afghanistan is facing a worsening humanitarian and health crisis in 2025, with millions of returning refugees expected to stretch the country’s already fragile health system.
In its latest report, the WHO said about 1.6 million Afghans are expected to return from Pakistan and nearly 2 million from Iran this year, fuelling further strain on healthcare. The agency urged the international community to step up support.
Dr Luo Dapeng, the WHO Representative in Afghanistan, said the situation was urgent, warning that “the health system is fragile, under-resourced, and cannot cope alone with the scale of need”.
The report found that 22.9 million Afghans – nearly half the country’s population – will need humanitarian assistance in 2025. However, current plans only cover 16.8 million people, leaving a funding gap of $2.42 billion.
Afghanistan’s rural areas remain the most vulnerable, with many communities lacking access to basic services. WHO also highlighted the risk of outbreaks of polio, malaria, COVID-19, diarrhoeal disease, and other infections. According to UNICEF, more than 875,000 Afghan children under five suffer from severe acute malnutrition, increasing their vulnerability to disease.
Globally, malaria alone killed more than 600,000 people in 2022, according to WHO, underscoring fears that Afghanistan could see a surge if prevention measures falter.
Humanitarian analysts warn that unless urgent funding is secured, the crisis could escalate ahead of winter.
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On 15 May 2026, an Ebola outbreak was officially declared in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the country’s 17th since the virus was first identified there in 1976. The rare Bundibugyo strain has left health workers struggling without approved vaccines or treatments.
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
The World Health Organisation has warned that the risk of a widening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has escalated to “very high” at national level.
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is probably linked to 136 deaths, the Central African nation’s Health Minister has said.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 26 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran has called Monday's U.S. strikes on it 'a gross violation' of their ceasefire. The U.S. military said it carried out defensive strikes in southern Iran after boats were seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the U.S. says a peace deal may require several more days.
The new AnewZ documentary, TARGET: Yerevan, builds its explosive case on exclusive, secret recordings originally published by Minval Politika.
Dozens of people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire agreed between the countries in April. The attacks came as Iran accused the U.S. of violating a separate ceasefire with strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
The visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Armenia marks one of the clearest signs yet of Washington’s growing interest in the South Caucasus.
Britain has announced fresh sanctions targeting cryptocurrency exchanges, financial networks and banks accused of helping Russia evade Western restrictions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
China’s carbon emissions grew far less than previously thought over the past five years, according to a new analysis that is drawing close attention from climate researchers worldwide.
Muslims around the world have marked Eid al-Adha with prayers, celebrations and acts of charity, though for many Palestinians the holiday unfolded amid conflict, restrictions and loss.
Spanish police visited the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) in Madrid on Wednesday as part of a widening High Court investigation into alleged attempts to interfere with judicial proceedings involving party and government figures.
Latvia is strengthening its anti-drone capabilities along its borders with Russia and Moscow-allied Belarus after several drones entered the NATO member’s airspace, according to a senior military official.
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