Published on: 2026-06-08
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The situation in Afghanistan remains stable, economic indicators are growing despite sanctions and the closure of the eastern border since October of last year; however, progress is undermined by serious demographic and humanitarian problems. The situation in the country can be characterized as one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. This was stated by Georges Gagnon, acting head of the UN mission in this country, at the UN Security Council briefing.
Demographic problems
The main problem for economic stabilization remains the demographic factor. Since 2023, almost 5.9 million people have returned from neighboring countries, which has led to a sharp increase in Afghanistan’s population – by more than 10 percent.
It is expected that by 2026 up to 2.8 million more Afghans will return, most of whom do not have the means to survive. The UN urges countries repatriating refugees to observe the principle of non-refoulement.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that more than half of Afghanistan’s population is under 25 years old. The youth face a lack of employment prospects. Agriculture, which provides livelihoods for more than 70 percent of the population, is being destroyed due to prolonged drought, water shortages, and ecosystem degradation. About 21.9 million people (approximately 45 percent of the country’s population) are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Systemic violation of the rights of women and girls
The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is rapidly deteriorating due to severe restrictions, with long-term consequences for the entire society, Ganyon said. According to UN estimates, 3.8 million girls aged 7 to 18 do not attend school, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls. Every year, about 250 thousand girls are permanently deprived of the opportunity to receive secondary education.
Data restrictions on education and labor cause economic damage to the country. It is forecasted that by 2030 the health and education sector will lose more than 25 thousand qualified female specialists, which will limit the population’s access to medical care and worsen maternal and child mortality indicators.
“UNICEF analysis shows that restrictions on women’s access to education and participation in labor activity are already harming the economy and undermining Afghanistan’s long-term economic development,” Gagnon said.
The UN also expresses deep concern that female staff members from the Organization among local women are not allowed to work in the office.
In Afghanistan, broader trends of restrictions on human rights are observed. A recent decree concerning marriage and divorce grossly violates children’s rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
The arrests of journalists and the closure of the media testify to the narrowing of the civic space, Gañón noted.
Regional tension
She also reported that tensions in relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are escalating. Border clashes and the closure of borders hinder trade and humanitarian operations and increase the cost of goods.
The UN calls on parties to engage in dialogue, de-escalation, ceasefire, and resolution of the issue of the presence of terrorist groups on Afghan soil.
UN position on interaction with de facto authorities
The UN representative emphasized that the current work of the mission on the ground and maintaining contacts with the de facto authorities does not imply support for the existing regime, but is dictated by the necessity of supporting the Afghan people.
“Interaction is not an approval of the current regime. It is necessary for understanding the situation, facilitating dialogue and supporting the Afghan people,” said Gañón.
The main international format for resolving Afghanistan’s political issues remains the Doha process. This multilateral mechanism unites regional and international actors for structured interaction with the de facto authorities, emphasized the head of the mission.
Increase in the scale of hunger
The food security situation in Afghanistan is rapidly deteriorating, according to the UN Security Council, as reported by Edem Vauxornu, representative of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). By 2026, about five million people may face acute food insecurity, which is 50 percent higher than the figures for the same period last year. Approximately 3.7 million children suffer from malnutrition.
Extremely alarming reports are coming in that, for the sake of the family’s survival, they are forced to take desperate steps, including selling their own daughters.
The situation is aggravated by natural disasters: spring floods have taken the lives of almost 100 people, destroying or damaging tens of thousands of homes, as well as medical institutions, schools, bridges, roads, and destroying the harvest.
Financial crisis
Despite the difficult situation, from January to March of this year humanitarian organizations were able to provide assistance to 4.7 million people. However, the delivery of humanitarian cargoes is significantly slowed down by bureaucratic and administrative barriers. The existing restrictions in the country continue to negatively affect the work of humanitarian workers, especially women.
Vosorn also reported on the critical reduction of resources. Implementing the humanitarian response plan this year requires 1.71 billion dollars, but so far only 15 percent of this amount has been received.
Persecution of ethnic and religious minorities
In the Security Council, Metra Mesran also spoke – the founder of the human rights digital resource “Archive of Justice of Afghanistan,” documenting decrees, directives, and the policy of the Taliban, as well as witness testimonies.
According to Mesran, ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan, especially women from communities of Hazaras, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmens, Shiites, and Ismailis, often face the most severe forms of violence and political isolation from the Taliban.
“The Taliban punish any violations of their orders with violence, imprisonment, or even death. Moreover, while the mullahs ensure adherence to the Taliban’s policy of ‘virtue and vice’ in public places, the system also forces ordinary men to control the behavior of their female relatives,” said the human rights activist.
Women who resist the Taliban’s policies have faced arrests, imprisonment, sexual violence including gang rapes, and torture. Some of them have been killed, Ms. Meran reported.
“In accordance with international law, states and international organizations are obliged to take measures already now. And we intend to call on the international community to respond,” the activist said.
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