UN: Middle East War Deepens Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis

DID Press: UN warned that the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is worsening as the war in the Middle East and rising commodity prices place new pressure on the country’s fragile economy.

Georgette Gagnon, acting head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told the United Nations Security Council that Afghanistan’s trade routes through Iran have become uncertain due to ongoing regional conflict, while the closure of border crossings with Pakistan has further deepened economic difficulties.

Gagnon also warned that Afghanistan’s continued isolation from the international community is hindering progress on economic self-reliance, security cooperation, counterterrorism efforts, human rights protections, and humanitarian crisis management.

She cautioned that failure to address these challenges could once again turn Afghanistan into a source of regional and global instability, potentially fueling mass migration, terrorism, and drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, unresolved disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated into border clashes and even airstrikes in some Afghan areas, adding to the country’s instability. Gagnon called for an immediate halt to hostilities to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need.

According to UN figures, around 5.5 million Afghans have returned from neighboring countries since September 2023, even as international aid declines and humanitarian needs continue to rise.

Gagnon also warned that years of economic stagnation, climate shocks, and restrictions on women and girls have weakened families’ ability to cope with the crisis. She stressed that excluding women from the workforce will seriously undermine Afghanistan’s human capital in the long term.