Over 136,000 civilians in Afghanistan’s remote Nuristan Province have endured two months without food, medicine or basic supplies due to intense fighting; a major aid operation led by the ICRC has now reached previously cut-off districts.
In a coordinated multi-day operation launched on Tuesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have begun delivering life-saving assistance to thousands of families trapped in the eastern districts of Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal in Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province. These mountainous, hard-to-reach areas have been largely inaccessible for more than six weeks because of ongoing armed conflict, leaving approximately 136,000 people – around 17,000 households – without reliable access to food, healthcare or essential household items.
The operation marks a significant breakthrough after weeks of restricted movement and severed supply lines. Nuristan’s rugged terrain and history of volatility have long complicated relief efforts, but the current crisis escalated when fighting intensified, blocking roads and preventing commercial traffic and medical evacuations. Families reported eating whatever limited stocks they had, while the sick and injured had no way to reach hospitals. Early assessments by humanitarian teams on the ground confirm that food security has deteriorated sharply, with many households facing acute shortages.
Sustained Dialogue Opens the Door for Safe Access
Since early April, the ICRC, ARCS and UN agencies have engaged in continuous, behind-the-scenes dialogue with all parties to the armed conflict. The goal was straightforward but critical: secure safe, unimpeded passage for neutral humanitarian actors. Those negotiations have now borne fruit. With guarantees of security in place, convoys carrying food rations, medical supplies and other relief items are moving into the districts for the first time in weeks.
The ICRC emphasised that the assistance is strictly needs-based and guided by the principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality – core tenets that allow the organisation to operate in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. By maintaining strict neutrality, the teams have been able to negotiate access without taking sides, ensuring aid reaches civilians regardless of political or military affiliation.
Food, Medicine and Relief Items Reach the Most Vulnerable
The immediate focus of the operation is on the most urgent gaps. Food distributions organised with WFP are prioritised to prevent further malnutrition, especially among children and elderly residents who have gone without adequate nutrition for weeks. Medical kits supplied by the ICRC and ARCS will help local health facilities treat injuries sustained during the clashes as well as routine illnesses that have gone unchecked. Blankets, cooking utensils and hygiene items are also being handed out to restore a minimum level of dignity and prevent disease outbreaks.
At the same time, the reopening of the main road into Nuristan Province is already producing secondary benefits. Local markets have begun to receive fresh supplies, and medical evacuations – once impossible – are resuming. These developments offer a glimmer of normalcy, yet humanitarian teams caution that the situation remains fragile. Many families have lost livestock or crops during the fighting, and winter planting seasons may have been disrupted, raising fears of longer-term food insecurity.
Needs Remain Acute Despite Initial Deliveries
While the arrival of aid is a relief, assessments conducted in parallel with the distributions show that the scale of need is still enormous. Food security, healthcare services and access to clean water and sanitation are all under severe strain. Community representatives consulted by the humanitarian organisations have highlighted ongoing gaps in shelter repairs and protection for women and children. The ICRC and its partners are therefore planning follow-up phases to ensure the response matches the evolving situation on the ground.
The operation is not a one-off gesture but part of a sustained effort. Humanitarian actors have reiterated their commitment to stay engaged for as long as access is granted and needs persist. However, they stress that continued safe passage depends on the cooperation of all parties to the conflict. Any renewed fighting or obstruction of aid routes could quickly reverse the gains made in recent days.
Neutrality and Impartiality Key to Long-Term Humanitarian Work
The success of this operation underscores the importance of principled humanitarian action in Afghanistan, where multiple layers of conflict and economic hardship have stretched resources thin. The ICRC, ARCS and WFP have repeatedly called on all belligerents to respect international humanitarian law and allow civilians unhindered access to assistance. In Nuristan, where communities have historically relied on subsistence farming and limited trade, the disruption caused by weeks of insecurity has been devastating.
Looking ahead, the humanitarian organisations plan to monitor the impact of the aid and adjust distributions accordingly. They are also working to strengthen local capacities so that communities can better withstand future shocks. For now, the immediate priority remains clear: ensure that every household in Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal receives the support required to survive the coming weeks and months.
The ICRC has urged donors and the international community to continue backing such efforts, warning that without sustained funding and political space for humanitarian work, the gains in Nuristan could prove short-lived.
