Afghanistan
International Medical Corps was established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses to address the critical need for medical care in war-torn Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. Over the decades, in the face of continued conflict, we have remained, delivering medical care, healthcare-related services and training, as Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies.
In 2026, an estimated 21.9 million people will require humanitarian assistance to survive due to several consecutive years of crippling economic decline, all while still reeling from the effects of decades of conflict and recurrent natural disasters. Despite these challenges, International Medical Corps continues to support Afghanistan’s healthcare needs. Our staff—the vast majority of whom are hired locally—continue working throughout the country to improve the quality of life and health status of those we serve by providing medical services and training.
41 million
65/68 years
male/female
48 deaths
per 1,000 live births
The Challenges
Ongoing Conflict & Natural Disasters
Violence has continued to increase across Afghanistan.
Weak Health Systems
There are only about two physicians per 6,300 people.
Poor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Progress has been made in recent years to provide rural populations with greater access to improved drinking water sources, but much still needs to be done.
Our Response
Integrated Healthcare and Nutrition
International Medical Corps provides primary and community healthcare and lifesaving medical services in Kunduz, Paktika and Takhar provinces. In 2025, we provided 191,774 health consultations, including emergency trauma-care services, to people affected by conflict and natural disasters. We also offered maternal and newborn health services. We provided lifesaving curative and preventive nutrition services to 11,249 children under 5, and to 13,727 pregnant and lactating women.
International Medical Corps supported integrated specialized healthcare services to female drug addiction treatment centers in Balkh (50-Bed), Faryab (20-Bed) and Kabul (100-Bed), including an opioid agonist maintenance treatment center in Kabul, where services include detox, rehabilitation and MHPSS services for women suffering from substance use. Other services include awareness sessions, screening, outpatient care and motivational interviews. In 2025, 2,530 people completed inpatient/residential treatment periods.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
We provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services to help people and communities rebuild social structures after an emergency or critical event. We train MHPSS counselors to detect mental health needs and provide services through our mobile teams and health subcenters. Training includes mental health case management, psychological first aid, interpersonal therapy and problem management. Counselors offer both group and individual counseling to those exposed to distressing life experiences— such as armed conflict, natural disasters and displacement— and refer people with severe mental health conditions to appropriate health facilities. We also train medical doctors in the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme to expand care for mental, neurological and substance-use disorders in non-specialized settings. In 2025, we provided mental health care services to 96,769 people.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programs and Non-Food Items
International Medical Corps provides water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and non-food items (NFIs) to internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in Kunar and Paktika provinces. In 2025, International Medical Corps improved access to WASH services for 36,126 people across Afghanistan’s eastern and southeastern provinces. Our teams rehabilitated three community-based solar-powered water supply systems and five community-based boreholes and wells. Our teams distributed NFIs—including dignity, hygiene, water and winterization kits—to 28,146 families. We provided hygiene promotion sessions to 33,226 people and distributed 18,671 bars of soap to families in need. In 2025, we provided 3,136 winterization kits to returnees in Baghlan, Balkh, Kunar, Kunduz and Samangan provinces. The kits included tents, blankets, winter clothing, shoes for children and adults, and socks and shawls for women.
Protection Services
International Medical Corps works to discourage attitudes and behaviors that contribute to protection incidents in Afghanistan. To help reduce the stigma surrounding survivors, we provide targeted social- and behavior-change activities, such as community dialogues and awareness sessions about protection and other issues, including maternal and child health and vaccination.
We provide protection services, including psychosocial support (PSS) services and counseling services, in Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Dikundi, Faryab, Jawzjan, Kabul, Kunduz, Nuristan, Paktika, Samangan and Takhar provinces through psychosocial counseling centers, PSS corners and mother and childcare centers. We ensure that medical and PSS services are available to survivors and that they receive life-skills and vocational training to increase their resilience. In 2025, we provided protection services, including PSS, to 89,214 people. Our health educators work to increase the general knowledge of protection issues and the services available to address them. We engage with influential groups—including elders, school principals and religious leaders—to organize community dialogues. The teams also work closely with key actors—including local health facility staff and community focal points in each province—to protect anonymity and arrange discreet referrals.
Our Impact in 2025
We Were There: Earthquake in Northern Afghanistan
On November 3, 2025, a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, affecting more than 3,000 families across six provinces. Balkh and Samangan were among the hardest-hit provinces, with thousands of homes destroyed or damaged, leaving families exposed to freezing temperatures and struggling to survive. International Medical Corps provided urgent mental health services. We also distributed hundreds of winter blankets and dignity kits and thousands of liters of clean drinking water.
We Were There: Earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan
On August 31, 2025, a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake, and more than 17 aftershocks, struck eastern Afghanistan, causing catastrophic destruction across Kunar, Laghman and Nangarhar provinces, leveling entire villages and affecting more than 8,400 families. International Medical Corps distributed clean water, tents and winterization kits to families across Kunar. And worked closely with partners to conduct assessments and provide training across the region.
From Emergency Earthquake Relief to Lasting Change
In remote villages in Afghanistan, International Medical Corps delivers essential water, sanitation and hygiene services to support healthier, stronger communities.
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A child receives an emergency medical consultation from an International Medical Corps doctor.
Members of the water use committee in Gularam village gather for a meeting.
Children hold essential winterization items that will help them stay warm during cold weather.
Children get water from a new water supply system installed by International Medical Corps in Paktika province.
International Medical Corps staff members distribute clean water to earthquake-affected families in Kunar province.
An International Medical Corps doctor conducts an oral examination on a patient in Paktika province.