Afghanistan: WHO Situation Report No.3: Health emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (August 2026)

Please refer to the attached file.

EXECUTIVE SMMARY

SITUATION UPDATE

• In Yemen, the escalation that began on 6 August generated mass casualties across several governorates. Between 6 August and 18 September, the Ministry of Health and Population recorded 3,672 casualties: 674 deaths and 2,998 injuries. Of these, 680 were recorded between 13 and 18 September. Casualty influxes exceeded local stabilization and surgical capacity.

• More than 130 000 people were internally displaced across eight governorates in Yemen as a result of the hostilities. The escalation also drove cross-border displacement, with an additional 3 500 people arriving in Obock, Djibouti.

• In the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), more than half of health facilities in Gaza remained partially functional and 47% of essential medicines were out of stock.

• In Lebanon, 334 353 people remained internally displaced as of 26 August, while three hospitals and 22 primary health care centres remained closed.

• In Sudan, conflict, displacement and disease outbreaks continued to place severe pressure on the health system. Funding cuts affected 335 health facilities across 13 states, with 153 suspended and 182 operating at reduced capacity. Cholera remained a major concern, with 2 730 cases and 246 deaths reported through 31 August, while dengue transmission continued across 15 states.

• Multiple disease outbreaks remained active, although declining trends were reported for several diseases. In Afghanistan, acute watery diarrhoea decreased by 23.6% compared with July, suspected measles by 44.5%, dengue by 41.0% and CCHF by 36.8%. In Somalia, measles, diphtheria and dengue remained active but declined during the latest reporting weeks. In Iraq, CCHF cases declined by 44% compared with July, while confirmed measles cases increased from 29 to 42.

• Food insecurity and malnutrition remained major health concerns, particularly in Somalia, Yemen and Sudan. In Somalia, an estimated 1.88 million children under five were acutely malnourished, including 493 000 with severe acute malnutrition. In Yemen, an estimated 2.2 million children were acutely malnourished, including 520 000 with severe acute malnutrition.

• Population movements continued to increase demand for health services. Afghanistan recorded 109 305 returnees during August, bringing the total since January to 1 186 755. In Sudan, displacement from North and West Kordofan increased pressure on services in El Obeid, while returns to Khartoum and Al Jazirah increased demand for restored health services.