Herat Province, Afghanistan — When Fatima (name changed for confidentiality), a resident of a remote village in western Afghanistan, received urgent cash assistance in March this year, it felt like a turning point. Like thousands of others across the country, she was struggling to make ends meet amidst growing economic pressures. The support—14,700 AFN, equivalent to USD 200—provided a vital lifeline.But within a day, that lifeline was taken from her.The Problem: Misuse of Power in Times of NeedFatima was one of 23 people in her community who received the cash assistance as part of a broader humanitarian response. However, on 25 February 2025, just a day after the disbursement, two self-appointed community focal points confronted the recipients. Claiming to “redistribute” the funds across the wider village, they forcibly collected the entire amount from each beneficiary—ignoring eligibility criteria and the targeted nature of the aid.For Fatima and others, this wasn’t just a loss of money. It was a loss of dignity and hope.Fearing retaliation and deeply concerned for her safety, Fatima chose a path many others might not have dared: she contacted Awaaz Afghanistan—the country’s only inter-agency, toll-free, and confidential platform for feedback and complaints related to humanitarian assistance.Awaaz Responds: Quiet Protection, Swift ActionHonoring Fatima’s request for complete anonymity, the Awaaz team documented the case in detail and swiftly referred it to the responsible humanitarian organization for follow-up. Within days, a field team was deployed to the area to investigate the claims.Their findings confirmed Fatima’s story.On 4 March, less than ten days after her call, the organization returned to the village, addressed the misconduct, and recovered the full amount of cash assistance. Each affected household, including Fatima’s, received their rightful share—restoring not only their financial support but also a critical sense of fairness and trust.“Awaaz exists to ensure that no one feels voiceless when things go wrong. In every call, there is a story of courage—and a responsibility to act,” said Edrees Omed, Awaaz Project Manager.  “This case is a powerful reminder that when people speak, and when humanitarian actors listen, meaningful protection and justice are possible—even in the most remote corners of Afghanistan.”Beyond a Hotline: A Bridge of TrustAwaaz Afghanistan—supported by UN agencies and partners—remains the country’s first and only nationwide humanitarian call centre. With over 586,000 calls handled and 3.9 million people reached, Awaaz empowers communities to speak up, access information, and shape the support they receive—promoting safer, more accountable programming for those who need it most.Fatima’s story illustrates the platform’s broader impact: it’s not just about receiving a complaint. It’s about restoring trust, rights, and resilience—one call at a time.A Call That Changed EverythingToday, Fatima has her cash assistance back. But more importantly, she knows her voice mattered.For thousands of others like her, Awaaz stands ready—to listen, to respond, and to protect.Do you want to add a short write-up on Awaaz here for potential callers? Available in different languages, operating from .Open seven days a week | Female and male agents available | Agents speak Dari, Pashto, Urdu, English, and more.Stay connected, engaged and informed.Call us for free now on 410

With millions of Afghans living in informal settlements in fragile shelters and aligned with the new priorities for the agency globally, UN-Habitat Afghanistan has introduced its strategic priorities to tackle the country’s growing urban challenges for 2026 and 2027.The UN-Habitat Assembly concluded with the adoption of the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan for 2026–2029 — a global blueprint to ensure access to adequate housing, land, and basic services for all.Through access to housing, land and basic services, UN-Habitat, at global level, aims to have an impact on three major global challenges:Equitable and inclusive prosperity for poverty eradicationPreparedness, response, recovery and reconstructionEnvironment and climate actionThe adoption of this strategy comes at a crucial moment for Afghanistan. Today, more than 9 million people live in informal settlements, often in fragile shelters without adequate water, sanitation, or tenure rights. At the same time, Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s largest returnee crises, with millions forcibly returned from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023. Most returnees settle in already overstretched informal areas, which increases the pressure on existing services and livelihood opportunities.Due to returns, but also climate-change induced displacement, urban growth is accelerating in the country. Four out of every five urban residents in Afghanistan live in informal settlements, and the country’s urban population—currently around 30 per cent—is projected to reach 50 per cent by 2060. Without coordinated action, this rapid population growth will lead to a massive spatial expansion of built-up areas, much of it informal and severely underserviced. If no action is taken now, this development will deepen existing inequalities and increase vulnerability to climate shocks, disasters, and health risks.In this context, UN-Habitat’s new strategic priorities for Afghanistan are timely and critical. By focusing on enabling adequate housing situations, livelihood opportunities, environmental action, and strengthening urban resilience, UN-Habitat aims to turn today’s challenges into opportunities for the people of Afghanistan - for a more inclusive, safe and better-planned future. The strategy, driven by UN-Habitat's global strategic plan and the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA), will be the country office roadmap for the next 2 years to focus on below priorities:Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Enhancing access to dignified living conditions and livelihood opportunities, especially in unplanned and underserviced settlements.Improving Resilience: Strengthening preparedness, emergency response, recovery, and long-term reconstruction.Advancing Climate and Environmental Action: Promoting green infrastructure and resilient urban planning to protect lives, livelihoods, and assets.Stephanie Loose, UN-Habitat’s Country Programme Manager in Afghanistan, emphasized the urgency of the plan:“Millions of people in Afghanistan live in informal settlements without or with very limited access to basic services, shelter, or hygiene,” she said.  “This strategic paper is a critical tool that guides our efforts to respond to these challenges. It enables us to continue making a real impact in Afghan communities—ensuring no one is left behind.”UN-Habitat Afghanistan will use this roadmap to strengthen partnerships, scale up interventions, and support Afghan communities in building safer, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments. 

In the hills of Laghman province, Anwar tends to his small herd of goats. Like many livestock owners in Afghanistan, he depends on them but keeping them healthy has become harder in recent years. “When my animals are safe, I can feed my family and send my children to school,” he said. For farmers like Anwar, livestock are more than just animals. Sheep and goats are the backbone of daily life in rural Afghanistan, providing nutritious milk, meat and income; and in tough times, they are often a family’s only safety net. But when animals fall sick, the effects ripple quickly through homes and communities.A serious threat to these small animals in Afghanistan is Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a fast-spreading viral disease that causes high mortality, weight loss, reduced fertility and sharp drops in milk production. First detected in Afghanistan in 1996, PPR continues to pose a significant risk to livestock owners, especially for women, who often manage livestock and depend on them to support their families.Years of drought, flash floods, extreme cold and the collapse of veterinary services have left Afghanistan’s herders increasingly vulnerable. Access to feed, water and animal care remains limited and diseases like PPR only deepen the strain on already fragile systems.In response, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with funding from the Asian Development Bank, led the largest PPR vaccination campaign ever conducted in Afghanistan. From November 2024 to May 2025, teams vaccinated nearly four million sheep and two million goats across all 34 provinces — reaching over 868 000 families and benefiting upwards of six million people. The campaign concluded just ahead of Eid al-Adha, when healthy livestock are particularly important. The success of the campaign was rooted in strong collaboration. Working alongside the Afghanistan Veterinary Association, local authorities, and over 1 000 private Veterinary Field Units, FAO helped to train veterinary workers, supplied tools and equipment and coordinated outreach across the country. Technicians managed a nationwide cold chain system to keep vaccines effective, and mobile veterinary teams traveled to remote and nomadic communities to ensure no farmer was left behind. Over 500 000 families received brochures that outline PPR prevention and basic livestock care information. “Last year, a herder here lost almost all of his flock to PPR," recounted Dr. Nisar Ahmad, a field veterinarian in Laghman. "This year, however, there have been no outbreaks where we vaccinated animals.”The vaccination campaign is estimated to have averted approximately USD 296 million in potential losses. It also contributes to broader efforts to protect the country’s 42 million livestock — including 13.8 million sheep, 7.6 million goats and 4.6 million cattle — a vital asset base for food production and rural economy.By controlling PPR within Afghanistan, this intervention also helps to prevent the disease from spreading beyond its borders, reducing the risk of regional outbreaks and the disruption they can cause to food systems, trade and livelihoods across borders.When animals stay healthy, people stay fed. In communities where livestock is a key source of food and income, an outbreak like PPR can quickly lead to empty plates and lost livelihoods. Targeted campaigns like this don’t just protect animals, they help families like Anwar’s get through the year and keep their children nourished, while preventing outbreaks that could spiral into crises. Stronger herds contribute to a healthier environment, reinforcing the critical link between animal, human and ecosystem health. Keeping livestock healthy is one of the most practical—and cost-effective— ways to support food security in Afghanistan. And for families who depend on their animals every single day, it’s one of the most urgent. From animal health services to irrigation rehabilitation to delivery of farming inputs, targeted and timely agricultural investments have helped farmers protect their livelihoods and keep food on the table. The gains made in reducing food insecurity across Afghanistan in recent years reflect what is possible when rural communities are equipped with the right support at the right time.  Building on this progress will require sustained investment in the agriculture sector, and a clear recognition that rural families are key to a more food-secure Afghanistan.

Dasht-e Barchi, a neighborhood in Kabul, hosts one of the city’s largest informal settlements—home to thousands of families living in fragile shelters, many in inadequate housing conditions, such as Khawar, a 66-year-old grandmother who is the head of a household of 12 people. For Khawar, life has never been easy nor merciful. After losing her husband in 2015, things took a turn for the worse for her —her daughter developed psychological disorders, and her son is unable to find work – making live a constant struggle to make ends meet.Despite these hardships, Khawar had one enduring wish. “I only wished for a safe and secure roof over my head,” she told UN-Habitat's community mobilisers. Pointing to her fragile shelter, she adds, “I was living in a life-or-death situation, always afraid the roof would tumble down on us.” “I was hopeless,” Khawar says. “Every winter, the roof leaked. We placed bottles to collect the dripping water, but my grandchildren still got sick.” Over the past three years, Khawar’s home became more and more dangerous. “I was afraid the roof would collapse on my grandchildren,” she explains. Despite her efforts to repair and stabilize the shelter with what little she had, it was never enough – while she refused to give up hope.  With support from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, UN-Habitat launched “The Shelter Initiative” for people most at risk of natural disasters, displacement, and climate shocks. And Khawar’s family was one of 645 vulnerable households selected for shelter support in 2024.Afghanistan is currently witnessing a large influx of returnees forcibly expelled from neighboring countries such as Iran and Pakistan. Since 2023, over 3.4 million Afghans have returned home, with many more expected in the months to come .  Many of them are looking for opportunities – in cities and, due to their socio-economic situation, are settling in already densely populated, often unplanned, underserviced and informal neighborhoods.  The integration of additional populations puts enormous pressure on already overstretched services. But even with limited funding, targeted support like shelter repair is transforming lives—just like it did for Khawar.Through UN-Habitat’s shelter initiative, Khawar’s house—along many others—has been repaired and rebuilt – giving families in vulnerable situations a roof, a home and hope.She adds, “I never had such a home—neither in my father’s house nor in my husband’s. But now, at 66, my wish has come true. I live with my grandchildren in a safe shelter. Thanks to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund and UN-Habitat.”Alina, Khawar’s 9-year-old granddaughter, adds: “Every night, I used to worry that parts of the roof would fall on us while we were sleeping. But now we feel safe—from the rain, the snow, and we no longer have fear.” While the new shelter has brought Khawar and her family some stability, many challenges remain in place. Still, she hopes this home could mark the beginning of a longer journey towards improved life.Since 2022, UN-Habitat has repaired or built over 6,883 shelters across Afghanistan—directly helping more than 50,000 people, with women and girls being the major group.Stephanie Loose, UN-Habitat Afghanistan Country Programme Manager, underlines the importance of the agency’s impact and approaches: “Adequate shelter is a human right—not a privilege. Yet, thousands of Afghans live in inadequate housing with minimal access to basic services.” She adds, “The absence or inadequacy of shelter and proper housing solutions is a major issue in Afghanistan. People continue to endure enormous mental and physical pressures. We must do more all together to address these pressing needs – to enable people to live a dignified and self-sufficient life. It all starts with a home.”Since 1992, UN-Habitat has been a lead housing agency in the country, delivering large programs across Afghanistan. Building on three decades of success, UN-Habitat remains committed to continuing to support Afghan communities by all means.