KABUL, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 15.9 million people in Afghanistan will require water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance in 2026, as the country grapples with overlapping humanitarian shocks, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report.

File photo: AFP

According to a report on the "OCHA Afghanistan" X account on Sunday, the escalating needs are driven by large-scale population returns, prolonged drought, outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) with dehydration and cholera, recurrent flooding, and earthquakes, placing immense strain on already fragile water systems.

OCHA's assessments show that 67 percent of households across Afghanistan are affected by drought and water scarcity, while 32 percent rely on unsafe water sources. In addition, 18 percent of the population lacks sufficient access to safe drinking water, significantly increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and malnutrition.

To prevent the collapse of water systems, curb the spread of waterborne diseases, and address rising malnutrition, the agency has called for 163.3 million U.S. dollars in urgent funding.