Briefing the Security Council, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Georgette Gagnon and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that nearly half the population will require protection and humanitarian aid in 2026.
Women and girls continue to be systematically excluded from most aspects of public life, according to Ms. Gagnon. The ban on secondary and higher education for girls has now persisted for four years, hindering the country’s future potential in fields like medicine, education, and leadership.
Media freedom is increasingly restricted, with journalists facing intimidation, detention, and censorship, limiting public debate and participation, Ms. Gagnon added. Both women and men endure daily intrusions under the de facto authorities’ law on the “propagation of virtue and prevention of vice,” reflecting systematic interference in private life.
Humanitarian needs are escalating, with nearly 22 million people set to need assistance next year, placing Afghanistan among the world’s largest humanitarian crises, Mr. Fletcher reported. For the first time in four years, the number of people facing hunger has increased, with 17.4 million Afghans food insecure and massive funding cuts stretching responses thin. More than 300 nutrition delivery points have closed, leaving 1.1 million children without essential nutrition, and 1.7 million at risk of death without treatment. The health system is also struggling, with 422 health facilities closed in 2025, depriving three million people of lifesaving care.
In addition to these challenges, Afghanistan has seen a record number of refugee returns, with over 2.6 million returning in 2025 alone, bringing the total for the last two years to over four million. Many return with few possessions, joining already impoverished communities. Women and children comprised 60% of returns this year, Mr. Fletcher noted, to a nation where women face restrictions on education, work, and healthcare.
Despite modest economic growth, pressures are increasing. While GDP is expected to rise by 4.5%, per capita income is projected to decline by about 4% due to population growth, Ms. Gagnon cited from World Bank data. Rural livelihoods have been severely impacted by the third consecutive year of the opium cultivation ban. Although the ban is internationally welcomed, UN agencies report a 48% drop in rural incomes, signaling the need for more support for alternative livelihoods.
Aid delivery is heavily impacted, with rising tensions with Pakistan and the closure of key border posts for two months affecting trade and civilian life. Women’s participation in humanitarian work is under direct threat, with female national UN staff barred from accessing UN premises since September, a restriction Mr. Fletcher condemned as unacceptable and detrimental to aid efforts. There can be no effective humanitarian response without women, Mr. Fletcher stressed, stating that Afghanistan needs them.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) warned that rights, particularly for women and girls, are still mostly inaccessible. Forced returns pose risks to journalists, former officials, and civil society figures. Human rights are not optional; they are essential for sustaining life, Ms. Gagnon stated in a separate UNAMA statement, emphasizing that facilitating learning, work, and participation for women and girls is crucial to recovery.
Despite severe constraints, the UN continues to provide aid, releasing over $40 million in emergency funding recently to address earthquakes, drought, and mass returns. However, Mr. Fletcher cautioned that underfunding is now costing lives. Without urgent international attention and support, the crisis risks worsening further by 2026, he warned.
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