Jerusalem: Afghanistan's worsening humanitarian crisis is being driven by the accelerating erosion of fundamental rights-especially for women and girls-alongside mass displacement, economic decline, and shrinking aid, senior UN officials warned on Wednesday.
According to Emirates News Agency, Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, and Tom Fletcher, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the Security Council, stating that nearly half of the population will need protection and humanitarian assistance in 2026. Fletcher noted, "Humanitarian needs are surging," with nearly 22 million people requiring assistance next year, placing Afghanistan among the world's largest humanitarian crises.
For the first time in four years, the number of people facing hunger has increased, with approximately 17.4 million Afghans now food insecure. Funding cuts have left the humanitarian response stretched to its limits. More than 300 nutrition delivery points have closed, affecting 1.1 million children who now lack lifesaving nutrition, while 1.7 million face the risk of death without treatment. The health system is also struggling, with 422 health facilities having closed in 2025, cutting three million people off from essential care.
Women and girls are systematically excluded from almost all aspects of public life, Gagnon stated, as the ban on secondary and higher education for girls has entered its fourth year. This situation deprives the country of future doctors, teachers, and leaders.