Overview of the November 2025 Emergency in Afghanistan
UNICEF’s November 2025 humanitarian situation report for Afghanistan documents a critical period following a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck in the early hours of 3 November, disrupting sleep and safety across northern provinces from Balkh to Samangan. The disaster added to long-standing humanitarian needs, intensifying the demand for nutrition, health, water, sanitation, and protection services as communities begin to recover from the shakes and aftershocks.
Impact of the earthquake on families and children
The earthquake affected thousands of households, with many families losing shelter, essential household items, and access to safe drinking water. UNICEF’s response focuses on immediate life-saving support and protecting the most vulnerable, especially children, who are at heightened risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and unaccompanied or separated during displacement. The report emphasizes rapid needs assessments, targeted protection measures, and coordination with government and partners to ensure aid reaches the most affected areas.
Nutrition and health: key indicators from November
Nutrition remains a top priority as displacement and disrupted services threaten gains in child health. In November, a massive screening effort reached 1.2 million children to assess wasting and malnutrition risk. While the exact outcomes are still being finalized, preliminary figures indicate significant identification of children in need of treatment and prevention services, underscoring the importance of sustained nutrition programming amid ongoing access challenges. UNICEF emphasizes the need to scale up therapeutic feeding, micronutrient support, and timely referral pathways to health facilities, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach districts.
Preventive and curative actions
Key actions include deploying mobile health teams, reinforcing primary health care centers, and distributing ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) where screens indicate wasting. In parallel, vaccination campaigns, routine immunization catch-ups, and disease surveillance are being intensified to mitigate secondary health risks in overcrowded displacement settings. The report also highlights mental health and psychosocial support, recognizing the emotional toll of disasters on children and caregivers.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
Access to safe water and sanitation remains essential in earthquake-affected areas. UNICEF is coordinating with local authorities to restore water supply, rehabilitate damaged facilities, and promote hygiene practices to prevent disease outbreaks. WASH interventions are designed to reduce the risk of diarrheal diseases among children and vulnerable populations in shelters and temporary settlements.
Protection, education, and child safeguarding
Displacement often increases protection risks for children, particularly unaccompanied minors and those separated from families. UNICEF is reinforcing child protection services, safe spaces in shelters, and community-based monitoring to identify and respond to cases of violence, exploitation, and gender-based violence. Education continuity is also prioritized, with schooling opportunities being adapted to the crisis context so that children can resume learning in safer environments.
Coordination and next steps
UNICEF is working with the Afghan authorities, other UN agencies, and non-governmental partners to streamline the humanitarian response. The report calls for sustained funding, ongoing needs assessments, and adaptive programming as the situation evolves. Seasonal factors, ongoing conflict risk, and logistical constraints are acknowledged as challenges to delivering timely aid, but collaboration across sectors aims to minimize disruption and maximize impact for children and families.
What communities can expect moving forward
In the coming weeks, UNICEF plans to expand nutrition services, restore essential health and WASH facilities, and maintain protection and education programs in affected districts. The organization will continue to monitor malnutrition trends, disease patterns, and protection concerns while coordinating with partners to ensure aid reaches children in both accessible and hard-to-reach areas.
