Afghanistan Faces Record Humanitarian Crisis Five Years After Taliban Takeover Amid Aid Cuts

Five years after the Taliban regained control, Afghanistan is experiencing a record humanitarian crisis, with nearly half its population (21.9 million people) in need. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) reports that sweeping global aid cuts, a prolonged drought, and the return of 3.2 million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 have severely impacted public services, forcing the IRC to scale back critical health and nutrition programs.