UN Warns Afghanistan on Brink of Humanitarian Collapse

DID Press: UN warned the UN Security Council that Afghanistan is approaching a full-scale humanitarian collapse, citing escalating restrictions on women, rising displacement and hunger, and a sharp decline in international funding. According to the UN’s latest assessment, nearly half of Afghanistan’s population will require urgent assistance by 2026 if current trends continue.

Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, said Afghan women and girls are being “systematically removed” from public life. She noted that the ban on secondary and higher education for girls has now entered its fourth year, while media freedoms have deteriorated, journalists face increasing pressure, and authorities continue to interfere in the private lives of citizens.

Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, reported that the number of people in need of assistance will reach 22 million next year, with 17.4 million Afghans already facing food insecurity amid a renewed rise in hunger. He added that severe funding shortages have forced the closure of more than 300 nutrition centers, cutting off 1.1 million children from life-saving services.

The UN also highlighted mounting pressure on impoverished communities following the return of over 2.6 million Afghan refugees in 2025. Despite a projected 4.5% GDP growth, per-capita income is expected to decline by around four percent due to population growth.

UN officials stressed that shrinking budgets pose an immediate threat to Afghan lives. Fletcher warned that without swift international action, Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis will become significantly worse by 2026.