KABUL, April 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 4.2 million people in Afghanistan will require emergency shelter and non-food items throughout 2026, according to the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat).

"We must act now to ensure adequate housing for all," it said in a report.

Displacement, natural disasters and deepening economic hardship have compounded vulnerabilities across the country, making the need for immediate and scaled-up shelter assistance critical.

Humanitarian partners are urging urgent international support to provide safe housing solutions and shield the most vulnerable from further hardship. ■