Source: UN News: Sunday, December 14, 2025 00:01 AM
Addressing the Security Council meeting on Wednesday, the Special Deputy Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan said that the country is facing a simultaneous humanitarian, economic, political and human rights crisis and in view of the current circumstances, it is important to ensure necessary assistance and international support for local communities. Special Deputy Representative Georgette Gagnon told Member States that women and girls in Afghanistan are almost completely excluded from public life. Their participation in secondary and college education is restricted, now in its fourth year. This is depriving Afghanistan’s future generations of women doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and leadership essential to the country’s development. Tweet URL
Media freedoms have also been curtailed, with journalists being intimidated, detained, censored, and the space for public debate and participation shrunk. Tom Fletcher, accompanied by the Deputy Representative, Head of Emergency Response, also briefed the Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan, saying that in 2026, half the country’s population and 22 million people will be left without protection and Humanitarian aid will be needed. Aid operations under pressure According to Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Humanitarian Office, this is the first time in 4 years that the number of people facing hunger has increased. 1.74 crore Afghan citizens are now struggling with food insecurity, while they are not getting adequate relief due to cuts in aid funds. More than 300 nutrition assistance centers have been closed, leaving 11 lakh children without access to nutrition. The health system is also cracking. 422 health centers were closed in 2025, leaving more than 3 million people without access to life-saving health services. This year, 2.6 million refugees from Iran and Pakistan have also returned to Afghanistan, which is already facing challenging conditions, increasing the burden on limited resources. More than 40 lakh Afghans have returned to their country in two years. Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher said that 60 percent of the people returning in 2025 are women and children. They are returning to a country where women are locked out of education, work and, in some cases, health care. Despite some growth in the economy, the country faces challenging economic conditions. Citing World Bank data, Georgette Gagnon said that GDP is likely to grow by 4.5 percent, but per capita income may decline by 4 percent. Livelihoods in rural areas have been ruined due to the ban on opium poppy cultivation. This ban has been welcomed internationally but rural income has declined by 48 percent. Also, support for alternative livelihoods has been requested. Impact on Relief Operations: The security situation in Afghanistan is better than in the last few decades, but due to extremist activities, tensions with neighboring country Pakistan are increasing. Due to the closure of border posts during the last two months, business and general life has been deeply affected. There are also challenges for women’s participation in humanitarian aid operations. Since September, local UN female staff have been prevented from entering UN premises. Tom Fletcher called this unacceptable, saying it could cripple aid efforts. “No effective humanitarian effort can be done without women…Afghanistan needs them.” © UNICEF/Osman Khayyam Appeal for international supportDespite the current difficulties, UN agencies are working to provide relief to needy communities in Afghanistan. $40 million in emergency funding has been allocated to respond to the crisis caused by earthquakes, drought and large-scale refugee returns. But cuts to aid funding are costing lives. Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher said there is a risk of a shortage in life-saving assistance in 2026, at a time when demand from food insecurity, health and protection needs is growing. In view of this, the UN Under-Secretary-General called for international Urging immediate support from the community, it has warned that if help is not received soon, this crisis may take a worse form.
