Crisis in Afghanistan
After decades of conflict and economic instability Afghanistan is experiencing a humanitarian crisis with many people unable to access healthcare.
Our medical teams have continued to provide care to the people of Afghanistan throughout recent conflict and following the change of government in 2021.
What is the situation in Afghanistan?
Since 2021, most hospitals and medical facilities across the country have faced extreme pressure with staff and equipment shortages due to a severe lack of funding.
Following heavy sanctions the country faces economic crisis and tens of thousands of people lost their jobs.
In June 2022, an earthquake hit Khost and Patika provinces in Afghanistan. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands wounded. MSF sent teams to provide urgent medical care and mental health support. We also launched an emergency response to an earthquake in 2023.
Authorities have increasingly marginalised women and girls from society and severely reduced their access to education and healthcare.
How is MSF helping people in Afghanistan?
MSF has continued to provide life-saving medical care to people caught in a humanitarian crisis. Our teams are treating emergency trauma cases, supporting people with chronic conditions and welcoming new life into uncertain times.
MSF is working in Lashkar Gah and Kandahar, both in the south, Herat in the west and Kunduz in the north. We also run a maternity hospital in Khost, in the east, which is our busiest maternity hospital worldwide.
Other activities include:
- Treating children for acute malnutrition
- Treating patients for infectious diseases such as measles
- Running our drug-resistant tuberculosis project in Kandahar
- Conducting vaccination campaigns such as for COVID-19
Timeline: MSF in Afghanistan
Latest news from the crisis in Afghanistan
