Senior UN officials warn that three-quarters of Afghans cannot meet basic needs amid economic collapse, mass returns, climate shocks, and Taliban restrictions, urging sustained development alongside emergency aid.
Senior United Nations officials Alexander De Croo, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), arrived in Kabul on Sunday for a joint visit focused on assessing challenges and supporting practical, locally driven solutions.
The visit underscores the severity of Afghanistan’s intertwined crises: a fragile economy, large-scale refugee returns, recurring natural disasters, and the impacts of climate change. De Croo emphasised that while emergency aid saves lives, long-term development is essential to restore futures. “Emergency aid saves lives, but development gives people their future back,” he posted on X.
During their trip to Sutan village in Dara-e-Noor district, Nangarhar province, the officials observed UN-supported projects aiding recovery from last year’s earthquakes. Residents had feared losing their village, but rebuilding homes, restoring services, and reviving livelihoods – through initiatives like flood-protection and irrigation – have fostered resilience. Both women and men participated in these efforts.
Mass Returns Strain Resources
Since 2023, approximately six million Afghans have returned from neighbouring countries, representing one of the largest return movements globally and about one-quarter of the world’s refugees and returnees. This influx adds immense pressure on already strained host communities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and public services.
The returns coincide with sharply declining humanitarian funding. Afghanistan ranks among the world’s least-funded crises, exacerbating vulnerabilities for millions. De Croo and Salih met with Taliban authorities, returnee communities, and aid partners to explore resilience-building measures.
Economic Hardship and Basic Needs Shortfall
Three-quarters of Afghanistan’s population struggles to meet basic needs, according to De Croo. The country faces weak economic conditions, limited access to services, and compounding pressures from poverty and disasters. Climate change is a daily reality, with communities directly experiencing floods, droughts, and other extremes.
UNDP projects in areas like Sutan demonstrate the value of integrated approaches: reducing disaster risks, protecting agriculture, and creating income opportunities. However, experts stress that short-term relief alone is insufficient; sustained international investment in livelihoods and infrastructure is critical.
Women’s Rights and Systemic Barriers Under Taliban Rule
The humanitarian crisis is deeply intertwined with severe restrictions on women and girls imposed since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls and women are banned from secondary and higher education, affecting nearly 2.2 million girls barred from schooling beyond primary level.
The bans, part of over 70 decrees limiting women’s rights, extend to most employment, public spaces (parks, gyms), freedom of movement (often requiring a male guardian), and even healthcare access. These measures have led to a decline in female teachers and health workers, worsening outcomes for children and families.
UN reports highlight how these restrictions disproportionately impact women, compounding the economic and humanitarian challenges. Female representation in civil services has dropped, and lost economic output from barriers to education and work is estimated at tens of millions annually, with long-term costs far higher.
Despite some internal Taliban discussions, the bans persist nearly five years on, dashing dreams and limiting contributions from half the population. Underground and online education efforts by Afghan women and activists provide limited alternatives, but they cannot replace formal schooling.
Climate and Disaster Vulnerabilities
Afghanistan’s crises rarely occur in isolation. Last year’s earthquakes in eastern provinces like Nangarhar and Kunar killed dozens and destroyed homes, hitting communities already grappling with poverty. Climate-induced events, including floods, further threaten agricultural lands and livelihoods.
UN-supported projects focusing on irrigation and disaster risk reduction offer models for building resilience, but broader investment is needed as climate impacts intensify.
International Response and the Path Forward
The UN officials’ visit signals continued engagement despite challenges in aid delivery and recognition of the Taliban administration. The organisation calls for coordinated, sustainable support targeting women, returnees, IDPs, and host communities.
Humanitarian actors warn that without addressing root issues – including rights restrictions and economic isolation – Afghanistan risks losing another generation. Calls for lifting education and work bans grow louder from global bodies like UNESCO, UNICEF, and Human Rights Watch, which describe the situation as a systemic erasure of women’s public life.
UN authorities said that De Croo and Salih’s mission highlights the need for practical solutions grounded in local realities. While emergency assistance remains vital, transitioning to development programming could help Afghans rebuild sustainably.
