About 134,000 people have been affected by disruptions to Save the Children’s work, including health, nutrition, child protection and education programmes
KABUL, 10 March 2026 – About 68,000 children in eastern Afghanistan have been forced from their homes by an escalation in armed clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Save the Children said [1].
About 134,000 people have been affected by disruptions to Save the Children’s work, including health, nutrition, child protection and education programmes
The suspension of hundreds of classes and temporary learning spaces means more than 8,000 children supported by Save the Children and its partners are currently not in school. Children are in urgent need of protection and psycho-social support and Save the Children has been forced to temporarily close some childcare centres.
Since 26 February, about 56 people have been killed and more than 120 injured, the majority women and children, according to the UN [2].
Nasim*, who works as a chef in a hotel, fled the fighting with his two children, leaving most of their belongings behind in their home in eastern Afghanistan. His son Ali*, 13, was in school and used to attend a Save the Children childcare centre. Now the family are crammed into a single room with relatives. Nasim*, 50, said:
“When my children go out of the house, I’m terrified that a bullet might hit them. I cannot go to my job because our hotel is in a place where bullets and mortar shells land and hit. Now, if we find something, we eat; otherwise, we sleep with an empty stomach. We are living in a very tough situation.”
At a time when one in three Afghans across the country need food assistance, 160,000 people have been impacted by the suspension of food distributions after the World Food Programme paused its work in the affected areas [3].
Some families - most of whom are totally reliant on humanitarian aid - are being forced to move for a second time after losing their homes in the deadly earthquake in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces in August 2025. About 49,000 people are still displaced six months after the earthquake, adding to the numbers of people newly in need from the clashes [1].
Arshad Malik, Asia Regional Director, Save the Children said:
“Tens of thousands of children have lost everything that gives them stability and security. They have been forced from their homes, cut off from education and healthcare and stripped of protection. The conflict is having devastating consequences for children and their families, many of whom already have acute humanitarian needs. The only way to truly protect children’s lives is to halt the violence.
"We urgently call on all parties to de-escalate the situation and ensure children are protected at all times. It is vital all parties fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, protect civilians, especially children, and to cease hostilities for a definitive ceasefire now.”
Save the Children has so far provided health services for more than 6,000 people in the affected areas, including sending three mobile health teams, psychosocial support for about 450 children, and multi-purpose cash assistance for around 350 families. The humanitarian organisation will provide further emergency support for children and their families, including education, health, protection, nutrition and water and sanitation, in co-ordination with partners.
Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976, including during periods of conflict and natural disasters. We have programmes in nine provinces and work with partners in an additional 11 provinces. We deliver services spanning health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and livelihoods.
References
* Denotes name changed to protect identity
[1] Calculation of number of children displaced made using OCHA data of an estimated 16,370 families or 114,590 people displaced and an average of 7 people/household, with each family having an average of 5 children. https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-situation-update-1-humanitarian-impact-afghanistan-pakistan-military-escalation-5-march-2026
[2] https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/update-civilian-casualties-afghanistan
