United Nations in Afghanistan

Latest

29 April 2022

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan condemns today’s heinous attack on worshippers in Kabul Province

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Press Release

22 April 2022

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan condemns attack on worshippers in Kunduz Province

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Press Release

21 April 2022

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan strongly condemns today’s separate attacks in Balkh, Kabul and Kunduz Provinces.

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Latest

Press Release

29 April 2022

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan condemns today’s heinous attack on worshippers in Kabul Province

Learn more

Press Release

22 April 2022

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan condemns attack on worshippers in Kunduz Province

Learn more

Press Release

21 April 2022

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan strongly condemns today’s separate attacks in Balkh, Kabul and Kunduz Provinces.

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The Sustainable Development Goals in Afghanistan

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Afghanistan:

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Publication

11 January 2022

Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan 2022

PEOPLE IN NEED 24.4M PLANNED REACH 22.1M REQUIREMENTS (US$) $4.44B OPERATIONAL PARTNERS 158 Foreword We go into 2022 with unprecedented levels of need amongst ordinary women, men and children of Afghanistan. 24.4 million people are in humanitarian need – more than half the population. Years of compounded crises and under-investment have resulted in nearly four times the number of people in need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance compared to just three years ago. The country is currently facing the second drought in four years, the worst of its kind in 27 years. As a result, Afghanistan now has the highest number of people in emergency food insecurity in the world – this is a terrifying 35 per cent increase from the same time last year. More than one in two children under-five is facing acute malnutrition and will be at risk of death if immediate action is not taken. The already over-burdened health system is straining to survive numerous shocks, including due to the continuing impact of COVID-19, spikes in waterborne diseases, frustratingly persistent strains of polio and a sudden collapse in predictable financing that has kept the nationwide health infrastructure afloat. The economic crisis currently facing the country has sent prices skyrocketing, while simultaneously diminishing people’s purchasing power. People are increasingly desparate, have exhausted nearly all coping mechanisms and have resorted to taking on unmanageable debt burdens and relying on dangerous coping mechanisms to survive. The situation of women and girls is particularly dire as their rights and opportunities have become increasingly restricted. The burden the people of Afghanistan have been forced to carry is far to heavy to manage alone. Over the course of a tumultuous and unpredictable year, the humanitarian community has proven its capacity to scale-up to meet new needs, including in response to recurrent natural disasters, escalating conflict, the withdrawal of international forces and the shift in the governance structure. I am proud to say that despite the numerous challenges created by the worsening security environment and increase in overall need, humanitarian organisations have persistently proven their commitment to stay and deliver and increase overall reach. Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) remain the backbone of this response and I look forward to further investment in sustaining a vibrant and engaged NGOs and civil society sector in the year to come. In 2022, humanitarian organisations have an ambitious plan to reach 22.1 million people with life-saving multi-sectoral assistance. In order to do this, the 2022 HRP requires $4.4 billion. People’s survival depends on the 158 dedicated humanitarian organisations operating in Afghanistan receiving sufficient financial resources to deliver. The consequences of late or inadequate funding are very real. Years of funding shortfalls have increasingly required humanitarians to try to do more with less and the limited rollout of complementary development assistance and sudden cessation of predictable development assistance have all been factors in the worsening outlook for 2022. We have made historic strides in working to develop cross-sector approaches with development actors in 2021 based on both life-saving activities and support for services that address basic human needs. Jointly we have developed a common snapshot of overlapping needs and activities that recognises the multidimensional impact of the current crisis. I look forward to the implementation of this innovative and crucial cross-pillar approach in 2022. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and InterCluster Coordination Teams (ICCT) are committed to applying a strong gender and protection lens to their work in 2022 acknowledging the disproportionate impacts of the current crisis on women, children and people with disability. Given the scale of vulnerability in Afghanistan, this effort will be guided by a range of both new and well-established technical working groups focused on gender, disability inclusion, genderbased violence (GBV), child protection, accountability to affected people (AAP) and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). The Humanitarian Country Team will also continue to be led by advice from Afghans themselves, a crucial function that will be supported by dedicated local experts, such as the Afghan Women’s Advisory Group. Sustained, principled humanitarian access to people in need has expanded significantly over the last years, and will continue to be built upon in 2022, and our negotiations will be guided by the Joint Operating Principles (JOPS) and with support from the Humanitarian Access Group. The humanitarian community stands beside the people of Afghanistan, during what is undoubtedly one of the country’s most difficult periods. Given the sheer scale of needs, we are all called upon to remain in solidarity with ordinary Afghans and to expand efforts to reach more people with the life-saving assistance they urgently need to survive. We must act collectively and creatively in this pivotal moment to reduce suffering, rebuild lives and livelihoods and ensure the rights of the most vulnerable are upheld. I urge donors to stay engaged in the wellbeing of the people of Afghanistan, and to give early and generously to humanitarian organisations. The people of Afghanistan cannot wait and the cost of inaction is simply far too high Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov Afghanistan Humanitarian Coordinator

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Story

20 December 2021

Parwana’s journey to recovery from severe acute malnutrition.

Malika rolls up her 4-year-old daughter’s sleeve revealing an alarmingly thin arm. Little Parwana came with her mother to the UNICEF-supported health facility at the nick of time. She has little energy, her skin is dry and wrinkled and her cheeks are hollow. She weighs just 9 kgs, while she should be twice that weight at her age and height. As the nutrition counsellor wraps the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) strip around Parwana’s thin arm - MUAC a simple measurement that allows health workers to quickly determine if a child is acutely malnourished - the diagnosis is confirmed: severe acute malnutrition. Across Afghanistan, an estimated 3.2 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition this coming year. And UNICEF warns that without urgent action, over 1 million children under the age of 5 are at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition. As soon as the nutrition counsellor diagnoses Parwana with severe acute malnutrition, her mother goes to the pharmacy to collect 28 sachets of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a fortified peanut paste that helps children recover from malnutrition. UNICEF, the sole provider of RUTF in Afghanistan, has been sending hundreds of thousands lifesaving RUTF sachets all over the country. According to UNICEF’s tracking data, the number of children treated for severe acute malnutrition increased from about 30,000 children in October to 54,000 children in November. Even though children like Parwana are now in treatment, the situation is dire for millions who are at risk as families go hungry. After a dry winter, a weak harvest and drought, almost half of the people in Afghanistan do not have enough food to eat. Many don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Parwana’s mother says that since her husband lost his job, the family has struggled financially. He used to buy chickens from farms and sell them in the market, but some days there are no customers – and no money. On those days, a glass of hot tea and bread is the only sustenance the family has. As a result of prolonged hunger, Parwana’s stomach hurts. She winces and cries when she tries to eat, her mother tells us. The impact of eating the nutritious peanut paste is almost immediate. Energized by her nourishing RUTF and feeling a little stronger, Parwana begins to interact with people around her. Lifting her head, she gently smiles and squeezes the finger of a UNICEF staff-member at the clinic. The nutrition counsellor asks Malika to return to the clinic with her daughter in seven days’ time for more tests and more peanut paste. This cycle will continue until Parwaneh is healthy. Two weeks later, as Parwana comes in for another check-up, she is visibly healthier. Her cheeks are rosier, and she has moved up one centimeter in the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference test and gained a kilogram in weight. She leaves the clinic with another armful of the nourishing peanut paste. As well as distributing the life-saving RUTF sachets, UNICEF is also doubling the number of nutrition counsellors and mobile health and nutrition teams so that children in the most remote areas can be tested and treated. UNICEF is also providing supplies and funding at 1,400 nutrition sites across the country, where we will support more nurses and health workers to identify and treat children quickly. UNICEF plans to expand these services further in 2022.

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19 April 2021

“CLIMATE ACTION FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET: THE TIME IS NOW”

By António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations The science is irrefutable and globally agreed: to stop the climate crisis from becoming a permanent catastrophe, we must limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To do this, we must get to net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by mid-century. Countries making up about two-thirds of the global economy have committed to do so. This is encouraging, but we urgently need every country, city, business, and financial institution to join this coalition and adopt concrete plans for transitioning to net zero. Even more urgent is for governments to match this long-term ambition with concrete actions now, as trillions of dollars are mobilized to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Revitalizing economies is our chance to re-engineer our future. The world has a strong framework for action: the Paris Agreement, in which all countries committed to set their own national climate action plans and strengthen them every five years. Over five years later, and with damning proof that if we don’t act we will destroy our planet, it is time for decisive and effective action as the United Nations convenes all countries in Glasgow in November for COP26. The new national plans must cut global greenhouse gas pollution by at least 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. Many have been presented already and set out clearer policies to adapt to the impacts of climate change and boost access to renewable energy. But so far, those plans achieve less than a 1 percent cut in emissions. This is a true red alert for people and the planet. In the months ahead, beginning with the upcoming Leaders Summit hosted by the United States, governments must dramatically step up their ambitions – particularly the biggest-emitting countries that have caused the vast bulk of the crisis. Phasing out coal from the electricity sector is the single most important step to get in line with the 1.5-degree goal. Immediate action to remove the dirtiest, most polluting fossil fuel from power sectors offers our world a fighting chance. Global coal use in electricity generation must fall by 80 percent below 2010 levels by 2030. This means that developed economies must commit to phase out coal by 2030; other countries must do this by 2040. There is simply no reason for any new coal plants to be built anywhere. One third of the global coal fleet is already more costly to operate than building new renewables and storage. COP26 must signal an end to coal. As the world moves toward clean air and renewable energy, it is essential that we ensure a just transition. Workers in impacted industries and the informal sector must be supported as they move jobs or reskill. We must also unleash the vast power of women and girls to drive transformation, including as equal participants in governance and decision-making. The countries that contributed least to climate change are suffering many of the worst impacts. Many small island nations will simply cease to exist if we don’t step up the response. The developed countries must deliver on their commitments to provide and mobilize $100 billion annually by: doubling current levels of climate finance; devoting half of all climate finance to adaptation; stopping the international funding of coal; and shifting subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The G7 Summit in June offers the opportunity for the world’s wealthiest countries to step up and provide the necessary financial commitments that will ensure the success of COP26. While governments must lead, decision-makers everywhere have a vital role to play. I ask all multilateral and national development banks, by COP26, to have clear policies in place to fund the COVID recovery and the transition to resilient economies in developing countries, taking into account crippling debt levels and huge pressures on national budgets. Many local governments and private businesses have committed to net zero emissions by 2050, and have engaged in significant reviews of their business models. I urge all to set ambitious targets and policies. I encourage young people everywhere to continue to raise their voices for action to address climate change, protect biodiversity, stop humanity’s war on nature and accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Time is running out, and there is much hard work ahead, but this no time to raise the white flag. The United Nations will keep flying our blue flag of solidarity and hope. This Earth Day and over the crucial months ahead, I urge all nations and all people to rise together to this moment.

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Publication

09 January 2022

Afghanistan: Humanitarian Needs Overview (2022)

Context, Shocks/Events, and Impact of the Crisis Following 40 years of war and an already dire situation of increasing hunger, economic decline, price rises in food and other essential needs, and rising poverty over the past several years, over 2021 the people of Afghanistan faced intensified conflict, the withdrawal of international forces and then the takeover of the country by the Taliban in August. The resulting political, social and economic shocks have reverberated across the country with a massive deterioration of the humanitarian and protection situation in the 4th quarter of 2021 and the outlook for 2022 remaining profoundly uncertain. Afghanistan’s population is estimated to be 41.7m in 2021, of whom 51 per cent are men and 49 per cent are women. A staggering 47 per cent of the population are under 15 years old, giving Afghanistan one of the highest youth populations in the world. With a projected population growth rate of 2.3 per cent per annum, one of the steepest in the region, the country’s financially-dependent youth population is set to grow even further. Population growth, internal displacement, higher-than- usual rates of cross-border return are contributing to increased strain on limited resources, livelihood opportunities and basic services, as well as an increase in protection risks especially for most at risk groups. It is estimated that there are more than 2.6 million Afghan refugees worldwide and more than 5.5 million people displaced by conflict inside the country. Scope of Analysis This Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) looks at likely evolution of humanitarian needs in Afghanistan throughout 2022 with an inter-sectoral approach to the analysis that recognises the multi-dimensional nature of people’s needs across sectors. The situation beyond 2022 remains extremely uncertain with a wide- range of risks that could upset planning assumptions. These risks and potential implications to 2021 planning are outlined in the risks section of this analysis (pg 49). The political takeover by the Taliban and the possible range of geo-political responses, as well as transformed security dynamics have made much previous analysis used to anticipate needs (trends in the “fighting season”) of questionable utility. Thus, forward projections beyond 2022 would be unreliable and so have not been included in this analysis. All 2022 calculations are based on the joint planning assumptions that are outlined in the risk sections in regard to the evolution of the political and security situation, with different seasonal influences on needs throughout the year including the onset of winter, rainfall patterns, agricultural planting and harvest seasons, and others (see pg. 51 for seasonal influences on needs). Greater emphasis has been placed on the drought impact and economic fallout from the crisis in the analysis, under the assumption that large-scale conflict is likely to be a relatively smaller factor in driving needs then in previous years. This analysis will be updated on a rolling basis as conditions change. Population Groups Because of the multi-dimensional threat facing Afghanistan of economic collapse, political instability, conflict and climate, needs are deep and widespread across the country, affecting all provinces. While the broader categories of the populations of concern for 2022 will remain similar to 2021, new sub-groups of Afghanistan’s rural and urban communities whose vulnerabilities have been aggravated by the conflict, drought and economic shocks and years of lack of recovery, have been included. Internally Displaced People (only includes newly displaced due to all causes in 2022) Shock-Affected Non-Displaced People (people newly affected by floods and other natural disasters in 2022) Vulnerable People with Humanitarian Needs (including protracted IDPs and those displaced before 2022, vulnerable protracted cross border returnees, IDP returnees, people affected by economic shock and income loss) Cross-Border Returnees (newly returned in 2022) Refuges and Asylum Seekers This HNO applies protection, gender, age, disability, mental health and AAP lenses to its analysis with disaggregated data used throughout, where available. Humanitarian Conditions, Severity and People in Need The deteriorating context and an increase in population estimates (now 41.7 million people) have combined to leave a projected 24.4 million people in humanitarian need in 2022, up from 18.4 million people at the start of 202. These humanitarian needs estimates were calculated using the Joint Inter-sectoral Analysis Framework or JIAF approach, which looks holistically at the needs facing people in Afghanistan and measures the severity of these needs using a series of inter-sectoral indicators. The JIAF inter-sectoral analysis of needs revealed that there are needs in every province of the country. With extreme need in 29 out of 34 provinces and the rest in severe need, with almost all population groups of concern present in every province (except refugees who are centred in Khost and Paktika). The analysis shows that the intensification of the conflict through August 2021, a consecutive year of drought, other natural disasters, Covid-19 and the broad-based economic crisis following the collapse of the Government has tipped many people from extreme poverty into outright catastrophe. With coping mechanisms and safety nets largely exhausted – as previous HNOs have warned --the collapse of basic services and development programming since August has pushed a large number of people reliant on development assistance into crisis. An updated Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis shows that in the first quarter of 2022, a staggering 23 million people, or 55 per cent of the population, are expected to be in crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity (IPC 3 and 4). 8.7 million people projected to be in IPC 4 – the highest number in the world. The fundamental drivers of food insecurity in Afghanistan include widespread poverty and economic fragility, extreme weather and climatic shocks, land degradation, and decades of conflict that have limited the spread of essential public services and safety nets. According to the Global Citizen report on the Worst Countries for Gender Equality, Afghanistan is the worst place to be a woman. Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and risks as gender inequality is interwoven with the conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. There are grave concerns about the roll-back on women’s rights and restrictions on their participation in life and society, with impositions introduced on education, right to work and freedom of movement of girls and women. Even with 55% of the country already in humanitarian need, the possibility of a further deterioration is very real. The majority of the remainder of the country requires the continuation and restoration of services addressing basic human needs to prevent them from slipping into humanitarian crisis.

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13 December 2021

One shining light: how medical supplies airlifted to Afghanistan have been used to save lives

In desperation, Rana, the junior wife in their household of 12, brought Amina to the National Infectious Diseases hospital hoping for some help. And help there was. As soon as Amina arrived, she was assessed as severely dehydrated, and treatment began. “This is the one shining light in a very dark time” said Rana as she stood by Amina’s bedside. Although none of the staff have been paid for 3 months, the doctors and nurses have been coming every day, simply because, as the hospital director, Dr Asadullah Esmat, said ‘This is our job. We are trained for that. Our staff say to us, ‘No problem, I am working for the people of Afghanistan’ In early September, just a few weeks after the change in political regime, people began arriving at the hospital with acute watery diarrhoea. Numbers climbed quickly, peaking at over 100 people per day. Many people had delayed seeking care, not certain if help would still be available, and arrived severely dehydrated, needing urgent rehydration. The hospital was already crowded with people needing advanced care for the many infectious diseases challenging the people of Afghanistan – meningitis, tuberculosis, HIV, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, COVID-19 to name a few. But it was essential to isolate and treat everyone who had acute watery diarrhoea to save lives. “We emptied out several wards, discharging those patients who were well enough, putting others in other parts of the hospital, even the corridors. We needed one female and one male isolation ward to comply with the new rules.” said Dr Esmat. WHO was able to supply critical protective equipment for health workers, such as gloves, masks and lifesaving treatment such as intravenous rehydration fluids. Since mid-August, donors have responded to WHO appeals for help and over 240 metric tonnes of medical supplies to help with all manner of health challenges, including acute watery diarrhoea have been airlifted to Afghanistan via 14 flights. Supplies are still desperately needed but more flights are coming. The supplies and the commitment of the health workers have paid off in lives saved. “Overall, we treated around 3000 patients and not one of them died. Thanks to the supplies and support we received from WHO, who came and helped in the earliest stage of the outbreak, we were able to provide the best care possible, even in these difficult circumstances,” said Professor Mohammad Murad Mamozai, the hospital’s medical director. The numbers of acute watery diarrhoea cases appear to be declining; fewer people are coming to hospital needing treatment for this, and numbers elsewhere are falling. But the outbreak did spread to 5 provinces and more than 3339 people have been infected. Work to identify every case, ensure water and sanitation measures are taken, such as chlorination of water sources, needs to be done to prevent further infection. All this depends on regular medical supplies coming into the country via WHO and other UN agencies. The other critical factor is the work being done by skilled and committed Afghan professionals, who are still turning up to work, despite still waiting to be paid. As Leda, a 26-year-old nurse working in the infectious disease hospital explained when asked how she stays motivated, “I wanted to be a nurse ever since I was a little girl. Yes, we don’t have a salary, but I love what I do.“

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08 March 2022

Meet the Afghan women and girls who inspire and motivate us to work every day

“I used to be a university teacher, now I am unemployed,” explains Shukriya, an active member of her community until August 2021 who now finds herself standing in line for food distributed by the World Food Programme. Restrictions on women’s rights, such as the right to work, push many women like Shukriya to line up for food for the first time in their lives, reflecting the shifting face of hunger in Afghanistan. No one should have to queue for food, but when but when this is necessary, the United Nations is there to ensure that people have what they need to pull themselves out of poverty and into a better life. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Shukriya to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Some 35% of teachers in Afghanistan are women. Currently they are being paid only occasionally – or, as in Shukriya’s case, not paid at all. No durable peace, recovery, or stability is possible without women’s active engagement and participation in their country. Dr. Razia is the only woman doctor in the COVID-19 ward of a hospital in Kabul – one of the four COVID-19 hospitals supported by the World Health Organization, with assistance from the European Union. “During the fourth wave of the pandemic, we are seeing increasing number of patients coming to the hospital and the majority of them have comorbidities. As health workers, we continue to look after them even though we operate in extremely difficult circumstances. My role is to save lives and I will continue to serve my people,” says Dr. Razia Women health workers serve many roles in the health system – doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory experts, epidemiologists, cleaners, interns. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Dr. Razia to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Shamsia, like millions of Afghans, was pushed out of her home by increased levels of insecurity in her town. Along with her parents and sisters, Shamsia now lives in a camp where people like her, who fled their homes in search of refuge within the country, do all they can to build a new life. For Shamsia, the journey from her home started when she was 12 and her parents could no longer afford her education. Shamsia’s family initially moved to Kabul to pursue better economic opportunities. Now, they live in a camp in Mazar-i-Sharif, where Shamsia learnt how to weave carpets at a training run by the United Nations International Labour Organization. At 27, Shamsia is the sole breadwinner of her family and the head of a business that continues an ancient Afghan tradition. No one should have to leave their home and choosing to do so is always a hard choice. The United Nations is there to ensure that people have what they need to start their lives anew. 3.5 million Afghans have fled their homes in search of refuge in other parts of the country. On International Women’s Day, as on every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Shamsia to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Amina noticed there was something different about Firoza’s delivery – another baby was on the way. Family Health House guidelines advise midwives like Amina not to attempt to deliver twins alone, but Firoza’s precarious condition meant it would have been too dangerous to transfer her to another facility, and in any case, most had closed due to the deteriorating security situation. Fearing for the well-being of her patient, Amina quickly called the Midwifery Helpline for support. The Midwifery Helpline from the United Nations Population Fund offers remote mentoring to midwives in Afghanistan, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Launched in 2016, the toll-free number is staffed by two gynecologists and two midwives who provide counselling, referrals, and step-by-step instructions to lead health practitioners through complex, and at times lifesaving, procedures. On International Women’s Day, as on every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Amina to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. “I love drawing, but my parents cannot afford to buy me any paper or paint,” said Mariam, 16, who lives in Herat province. “Because I can’t go to school now, I just stay at home.” The Spotlight Initiative (SI) in Afghanistan, among other activities, creates safe spaces where girls and women like Mariam can access psychosocial support, learning, and other services during time of insecurity and crisis. Mariam uses the safe spaces facilitated by the SI and its partners to paint, hoping that one day she will be able to complete her education and become a painter. Mariam’s father is now encouraging other members of his communities to send their girls to these dedicated safe spaces. For over seven months, teenage girls across Afghanistan have been forbidden from attending school. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with teenage girls like Mariam to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Hamida had worked in Afghanistan as a prosecutor, independent investigator, and civil society leader for more than 16 years. Like many across the country, the women’s protection shelter Hamida used to run is now closed. This shelter, run in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, hosted women and their children who would otherwise have remained trapped with the perpetrator of the abuse from which they fled. At these shelters, women learn how to read and write and acquire new skills that allow them to become economically independent. They also receive counselling to overcome trauma and interact with each other, sharing their stories in a healing way. Today, Hamida is still in Afghanistan, advocating for the rights of Afghan women and girls. She is in daily contact with the women who used to come to her shelter. She offers counselling over the telephone, but she knows that this is not enough for those women who are locked in with their abusers. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 Afghan women will experience some form of domestic violence during their lifetime. The United Nations in Afghanistan is advocating alongside women like Hamida for the reopening of life-saving services like women’s protection centres across the country. “I want to be a pilot one day,” notes Fazila – like many of her women colleagues works at the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme. UNHAS flies where and when no one else can, delivering life-saving items like food, and transporting humanitarian experts where they are most needed. In Afghanistan, UNHAS employs a team of women who are continuing to come to the workplace and provide an essential contribution to their country, despite the hurdles that many women like them now face in Afghanistan – restrictions on their rights to work, to learn, to move. When extreme crisis hits – like the one Afghanistan is currently facing, the United Nations continues to provide safe transport options for aid workers and life-saving assistance to the most hard-to-reach areas. Some 24.4 million people need humanitarian assistance now in Afghanistan, half of them women or girls. On International Women’s Day, as on every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Fazila to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Twenty-two years ago, Hamida left Afghanistan in search of better opportunities for her and her family. War had forced her to leave everything behind and migrate to Iran. Hamida worked on a farm and, 16 years after leaving her home, came back to Afghanistan with the vision of running her own farm. Home was where Hamida and her family felt most comfortable – but her native province was still not safe and the economic situation across the country remained dire. Hamida and her family moved to Mazar-i-Sharif, to a camp for internally displaced persons – people who had to flee their homes but did not cross an international border. Here, her farming skills were improved by the United Nations International Labour Organization, which matched her knowledge with management and financial skills. Now, Hamida is running a small-scale farm. Although 80 per cent of the world’s food is produced by small-scale farming, the contribution of women farmers is often not maximized. As a farmer running her own farm, Hamida is feeding her family and contributing to her country’s economy. The United Nations in Afghanistan works with women and men to break down the barriers that prevent them from feeding their families, while promoting reinvestment in their livelihood. Afghans make up one of the largest refugee populations worldwide. There are 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees worldwide, of whom 2.2 million are registered in Iran and Pakistan alone. On International Women’s Day – and every day – the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Hamida to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing.

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08 March 2022

24.4 million people need humanitarian assistance now Afghanistan. Half are women & girls – these are their stories of struggle and defiance

Women’s access to safe outdoor spaces is limited in Jalalabad. When Marzia, a woman community leader, heard about the intervention by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and its partners in her community, she started a campaign to convince all local men and women to vote for a women’s park to be built. This community project indeed passed a vote and Jalalabad now has a green area for women. “Women decided to build a park here in our community, because they recognized the importance of a green area for women. Now we have taken a step towards true humanity, in which all women and men have the same right and responsibilities,” said a local man in Jalalabad. Community leaders like Marzia played an active role in advocating for the initiative, but also in the project planning, implementation and monitoring. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Marzia to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. “I listened to the dangers of early marriage and decided to spare Shabana from what happened to my first daughter. My husband, however, did not want to listen to me.” Shabana is 13 and her mother did not give up on protecting here, but rather sought advice at one of the safe centres run by the Spotlight Initiative and its partners in Herat province. Counsellors at the centre spoke to Shabana’s father about all the unpleasant aspects of early marriage and the responsibilities of a father to protect his daughters. At the safe centre, Shabana and her family also received food and her father got a small job selling vegetables. He now is no longer interested in marrying off Shabana. At this moment, 24.4 million people in Afghanistan, more than half of the country’s population, need humanitarian assistance. This dire crisis is pushing many families to resort to desperate measures like child labour and early marriage. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with teenage girls like Shabana to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Zahra was top of her class and an inspiration to other students at the tailoring sessions provided by the United Nations International Labour Organization in Mazar-i-Sharif. A difficult financial situation forced Zahra and her family to live in a tent. But her commitment to learning new skills and her talent for tailoring helped Zahra pull herself and her family out of poverty. Within 8 months of completing the training course, Zahra’s new income had paid for the construction of a room where she could live with her family. She also managed to scale-up her tailoring business and bought a motorcycle, now used by her husband to deliver goods to the market. By the end of the year, Zahra hopes to be able to add another room to her quarters, improving the living conditions of her family. Her ambition is to help her children receive the education that she always dreamt they would have. No one should be forced to live in a tent, but when this happens, the United Nations is there to ensure that people have what they need to pull themselves out of poverty and into a better life. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Zahra to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. “Every morning when we used to take the cows to the pasture, I would go to the hill in front of the boys’ school and watch the school. I loved school before I knew what school meant,” said Basmina, who grew up in Khost province. The school was too far away from Basmina’s village and her father was worried that she would not be safe, and that the community would judge their family. One day, Fariba, a teacher in a literacy programme run by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its partners across Afghanistan, came to their house. Fariba was looking for girls like Basmina, eager to learn how to read and write, to join her literacy class. Basmina’s mother again faced the reluctance of her husband, but this time she did not give up – the school was established in their village and the teachers were all women. Years passed and Basmina graduated from university – top of her class. Now, she works as Lead Adviser for an international organization in Afghanistan. None of this would not have been possible if Fariba – Basmina’s first teacher – had not knocked on her door all those years ago. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women and girls like Basmina, her mother, and her dedicated teacher, Fariba, to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Nabila and her family were forced to leave their home due to insecurity in their province. In 2007, they returned to Afghanistan, but their hometown was still not secure enough to allow resettlement, so they found refuge in a camp in Mazar-i-Sharif. While living in the camp, Nabila learnt how to embroider. Previously unemployed, and with her parents in need of medical assistance and unable to work, Nabila is now the sole breadwinner of her family. Nabila is one of 5.5 million internally displaced Afghans, who have fled their home in search of refuge within their country. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Nabila to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Mansoora used to be a Computer Science student at the University of Balkh, but the fall of the democratically elected government in Afghanistan pushed Mansoora out of the classroom and into her home. Technology has always been her passion, so when the United Nations International Labour Organization offered support, she signed up for a mobile phone repair workshop. Now, she is training other women on how to repair phones, while providing software services for women customers at a shop in Mazar-i-Sharif. Mansoora is grateful that she can contribute to her family’s income and save money for her education, but she is also eager to get back to university. She dreams of one day running her own repair business. The United Nations stands firm in the belief that women and girls should be able to pursue the education of their choice. Forced to suffer the consequences of multiple overlapping crises, millions of Afghan students – the country’s future – are out of school. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Mansoora to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Born in a village in Afghanistan, Zarina did everything she could to obtain an education. However, her family only allowed her to attend until the second grade. But her mother did not give up, homeschooling Zarina right through to the twelfth grade. Zarina then moved to a city, studying at tertiary level for three years – until her family decided that she could no longer attend university. Reflecting the determination of her mother before her, Zarina did not give up and continued her degree in Turkmenistan, where she studied Political Science. But she ultimately was forced to stop her studies, due to financial difficulties. Upon returning to Afghanistan, Zarina found work in a soap factory, and now sometimes leads the production process. In her spare time, Zarina writes poetry – with a series of her poems being published in Europe. Zarina dreams of one day running her own soap factory. Every day that a girl misses out on an education is a missed opportunity – for them, for their family, for their community. In Afghanistan, 60% of the 4.2 million children not enrolled in school before the recent humanitarian crisis were girls. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with women like Zarina to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing. Zainap, 17, has two sisters and two brothers. They live in a village in Herat province with their mother, who does all the work in the house, and their father, who is self-employed. When Zainap first came to the Girls Safe Space run by the Spotlight Initiative and its partners, she was very scared. She talked about her father being harsh, shouting and even beating her because she did not yet wish to marry. The social worker helping Zainap at the Girls Safe Space was able to provide practical advice on how to speak about her worries to her mother and religious leaders. In the end, Zainap’s father understood how terrified she was. The situation slowly improved at home, and Zainap was no longer pushed to get married. Some 28 per cent of Afghan women aged between 15 and 49 were married before the age of 18. On International Women’s Day and every day, the United Nations in Afghanistan stands with teenage girls like Zainap to ensure that they have what they need to live a life of their choosing

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30 November 2021

From where I stand: “Women coming together, working together, kept me going… Now, we live in fear.”

Mursal Samadi* had worked as a prosecutor, independent investigator, and a civil society leader for more than 16 years in Afghanistan when the Taliban took over Kabul on 15 August. She remains in Afghanistan, advocating for the rights of Afghan women and girls. "I used to meet with the Minister of Women’s Affairs who brought together women civil society leaders to discuss about how we can work together to serve all Afghan women and girls. The governor of the province awarded me and my organization for the excellent services we were delivering to women and girls facing violence at home. Women coming together, working together, kept me going. Now, we live in a different reality. The days are slow… I do not remember the last time that I was busy. I go to work only twice a week, and only until midday. When I do, my nephew carries my laptop for me. I do not want people to know that I am going to work. Before, I used to be able to drive to the provinces (to help women). Now when I receive calls from my clients, there is nothing I can do. There has always been the need to support women and girls, ensure access to life-saving services when they escape violence at home. As a defence lawyer, I came across cases where social norms were [regarded] above the law, where adultery was always a woman’s fault, where men were rarely found guilty of anything. The ending violence against women law we had was not perfect, but it guaranteed to protect the rights of women and girls and allowed us, the members of the judicial system, to show perpetrators they can be punished for their acts. We don’t have this law anymore. The vacuum left by the absence of a legislative framework will be filled with executions without due process, women judges will be replaced by men, who will keep reinforcing the social norms that blamed women. Men used to refrain from violence as the media would report them, the judiciary system would punish them, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs would take active steps to prevent violence from happening. We have none of this anymore and I believe domestic violence has doubled. Women cannot trust anyone anymore. When I think about the future of my country, I have mixed feelings. We still see women being denied their right to work, peaceful protests led by women are met with force. What my country needs is an inclusive government. As an Afghan woman, I encourage the international community to continue upholding, defending, and protecting the rights of Afghan women and girls. We used to be able to able to speak publicly about our challenges, we used to be able come together and find solutions to our challenges. Now, we live in fear and cannot help one another like we used to.” * Names, locations, and course of events have been changed in this article to ensure the safety of the Afghan woman human rights defender featured. Interviewed by Nangyalai Tanai, and Olguta Anghel

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03 November 2021

Nine things you need to know about the humanitarian crisis and response in Afghanistan

Nearly half of the country’s 40 million people needed humanitarian assistance. More than half of all children under age 5 were likely to face acute malnutrition. Over 1,600 civilians were killed and more than 3,000 injured in the first half of the year. Since 15 August, things have only gotten worse. Here are nine facts you need to know about the situation in Afghanistan now. 1. Millions have fled their homes “We had no time to gather anything. We fled with only a blanket,” says Maryam, 24, an internally displaced Afghan woman in Mazar-e Sharif. She is one of more than half a million people who, since the beginning of the year, have fled their homes due to escalating violence. Afghans already constituted one of the world’s largest refugee populations worldwide, says UNHCR, with more than five million people in protracted displacement since 2012. UNHCR and partners are assisting newly displaced Afghans with life-saving shelter, food, water, and other items, both within Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries. 2. An economic crisis is looming Afghanistan faces an economic crisis caused in part by the sudden withdrawal of large-scale development assistance, lack of access to cash, and reduced overseas remittances. Prices are soaring, and more than 12 million people are facing food insecurity, with many of them selling their belongings and borrowing money to buy food. The World Food Programme (WFP) and partners are continuing to deliver nationwide, reaching more than 5.5 million people in October alone. In 2022, WFP plans to serve the food and nutrition needs of almost 23 million people in Afghanistan. 3. Health care is on the verge of collapse Afghanistan has made significant health gains over the last 20 years. Now that progress is at risk, as millions of people have lost access to basic health services. Medicines, medical supplies and fuel are running out across the country. Cold chains for vaccines are compromised. Nurses and doctors are not being paid. Cuts in donor support have left thousands of health facilities without fundingand essential medicines, forcing health providers to make hard decisions on who to save and who to let die.  On 22 September, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths released US$45 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund to help prevent Afghanistan’s health-care system from falling apart. But much more support is needed. 4. Schools have reopened… but not for everyone In September, secondary schools reopened in Afghanistan following months of pandemic-related closures. Sadly, only boys were allowed to attend. Girls were left behind. This is a reversal of the great strides in education, especially for girls, that the country had made in the past two decades. "We've got around one million high school-age girls sitting at home, denied their right to an education,” Samantha Mort of UNICEF Afghanistan told UN News. “If children are not in school, they're much more likely to be recruited by an armed group, or to fall into early marriage or to be exploited in some way.” “There's no childhood” these days in Afghanistan, says Mort. “It's all about survival.”  5. Women’s and girls’ rights are at risk The recent crisis has affected everyone in Afghanistan, but women and girls bear the consequences the most. Their rights and freedom of movement have been curtailed, and women’s rights, including to education, work and holding public office, are in danger of being rolled back.   Restricting women’s involvement in the workforce, including in humanitarian activities, will directly impact the ability of women and girls to access critical services. Their experience, capacities and leadership are invaluable for peace and security in Afghanistan. 6. A fourth wave of the pandemic is possible Afghanistan has just emerged from the peak of a third wave of COVID-19. Before August of this year, 2.2 million people had been vaccinated against COVID-19, barely more than a quarter of the vaccination target for 2021. Now, nine of the country’s 37 COVID-19 hospitals have already closed and all aspects of the pandemic response have slowed down, including surveillance, testing and vaccinations, causing fears of a fourth wave of the disease. WHO is boosting the COVID-19 response, testing capacity in the country, airlifting over 50 000 COVID-19 tests that are currently being distributed to 32 laboratories across the country. Some 150,000 more COVID-19 tests are in the pipeline and will be delivered in the next months. 7. Drought is causing continued hardship Afghanistan is facing its second drought in four years, affecting one third of the country. That’s dire news for the seventy per cent of all Afghans who live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for food and income. The drought has pushed poor families to rely on child labour, early and forced marriage, and risky irregular migration. It has also led to a water scarcity crisis, which will further increase sanitation and hygiene needs. FAO has scaled up its emergency assistance, providing animal feed, seeds and fertilizer for the winter wheat-planting season. FAO is also providing training on wheat cultivation and sustainable livestock management to build resilience for the future. This assistance aims to protect agricultural livelihoods and support 3.3 million people until the end of the year. 8. We are still here Staying and delivering means reaching affected people in Afghanistan, wherever they are, with vital assistance. Day and night, the UN is working with humanitarians, including local teams, to provide food, water, health care, education, protection and livelihood assistance. To continue this work, the international community must honour its promises and provide urgent and flexible cash funding that can be distributed quickly and allow humanitarians to help those in need. “The people of Afghanistan must not pay the price of collective failures. They deserve a normal life in peace and dignity,” says Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan. “We will spare no effort to respond to the needs of all women, men, and children in Afghanistan.” 9. Winter is coming The struggles and human suffering of millions of Afghans will be exacerbated by the harsh winter, which is only a few weeks away. Plummeting temperatures will lead to an increase in acute respiratory infections and deaths. Providing winter assistance early will be a lifeline for millions. Many families, particularly those who live in open spaces or tented camps, will need warm clothes and shelter to fend off the bitter cold. The world’s attention to Afghanistan may soon subside, but the plight of the Afghan people will continue. But we will not abandon the people of Afghanistan. We will not abandon the country’s people. We will not abandon ethnic minorities. We will not abandon women and girls. How you can help The Afghanistan Flash Appeal seeks $606 million to provide immediate life-saving assistance for 11 million Afghans for the remainder of this year. Despite the global attention to the country’s dire situation, little funding has been received on the ground. We ask donors to fast-track funding to prevent a further humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. To donate to the crisis, visit the dedicated donation webpage. Article was adapted from the originally published article on the OCHA website. Composed and editorial support by Ahmed Ben Lassoued and Paul VanDeCarr, Development Coordination Office.

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11 November 2021

A humanitarian worker in Afghanistan, through thick and thin

*Names and places have been changed. “I particularly enjoy seeing farmers or herders smile when they receive agricultural inputs like feed or seeds; I feel calm and fulfilled,” says Ahmady, a humanitarian who works for one of FAO’s NGO implementing partners on the ground in Afghanistan. Ahmady is passionate about his job. He has been doing this in his country for the last 15 years. Currently, he is coordinating the implementation of two FAO projects that are assisting farmers and herders affected by drought, reaching out to over 10 000 families with lifesaving support to protect their agricultural livelihoods. FAO is in the midst of scaling up its emergency assistance, providing agricultural inputs like animal feed, seeds and fertilizers for the winter wheat planting season. FAO is also providing specific agronomic training on wheat cultivation and sustainable livestock management to make the most out of the inputs and build resilience for the future. This assistance aims to protect agricultural livelihoods and support 3.3 million people until the end of the year. 80 percent of the Afghan population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods. “Emergency projects are extremely difficult to implement because they are carried out in the most insecure, remote and deprived areas; however, I enjoy working in the field and with communities, particularly vulnerable and poor families,” states the Afghan humanitarian worker, who has a master’s degree in agriculture. The expertise of implementing partners and local humanitarian workers is invaluable in calibrating emergency assistance to the on-the-ground needs of affected communities. Together with FAO teams in the region, implementing partners help the Organization keep its finger on the pulse of the situation for Afghan communities living in remote rural areas. As some workers were evacuated in August, and management and administrative systems have been disrupted, it is people like Ahmady who are ensuring the local delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to farmers and herders. A challenging job Humanitarian work is challenging by nature, and Ahmady’s job is not getting any easier. Workers undertake their activities in areas particularly affected by poverty and widespread food insecurity. Needs are typically far greater than the humanitarian resources available to assist people in these areas. As many FAO projects in Afghanistan are implemented in remote areas, humanitarians must sleep overnight in the only accommodation available, government-offered district guesthouses, “which can be extremely dangerous because there is always the possibility of suffering an attack,” explains Ahmady, a husband and father of five children. Before the collapse of the government in August 2021, “our commuting had become very difficult due to armed clashes. The security officers along the road changed every day; the new officers didn’t know us, and they were frequently performing body checks and even searching our phones," says Ahmady. On one occasion, an armed clash broke out at the District Centre where food, tools and other relief items are distributed. The Centre fell multiple times to both sides with control of the Centre changing from day to day, but fortunately, Ahmady says, the animal feed stored there was respected by both sides and left untouched. Changing rules Uncertain rules regarding programme delivery by female aid workers are greatly complicating efforts to reach female beneficiaries, Ahmady says. Things have become even more complicated as only women can survey other women in the beneficiary selection process. Yet, though “the majority of our beneficiaries are women," says Ahmady, “our female colleagues have not been permitted since the new de facto authorities took over.” In other areas of the country, women have however been able to continue with their humanitarian work. In Ahmady’s area, some agencies have gotten verbal permission for women to come back to work, but there is no official permit issued by the de facto authorities yet. The change in the administration has also led to bureaucratic issues. “Since the former governors abandoned the district and fled abruptly, [beneficiary] distribution lists previously elaborated started being rejected,” says Ahmady. The humanitarian worker has so far managed to overcome all these issues to distribute FAO’s assistance. An uncertain future As uncertainty reigns in Afghanistan, Ahmady worries about the future. “It is unclear what will happen. Making decisions about the future is quite tough.” Workers, like beneficiaries, are taking things day by day to see what is in store. Ahmady wishes he could at least return to football, a hobby that kept him happy and active. But work is too intense at the moment: “I have not worn any sporting clothes in more than two months.” He hopes that this, and much more, changes in the days upcoming.

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Press Release

29 April 2022

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan condemns today’s heinous attack on worshippers in Kabul Province

According to initial reports, an explosion tore through Khalifa Sahib mosque in the Darulaman area of Western Kabul, damaging the roof which caved in on worshippers. Local hospitals have reported far higher casualty figures, with dozens said to be killed and injured, including many children. EMERGENCY hospital alone has received more than twenty victims, including two who were dead on arrival. Mr. Alakbarov condemns the attack and conveys his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and those affected, and wishes the injured a speedy recovery. “Today’s blast, which comes on the last Friday of the holy week of Ramadan, is yet another painful blow to the people of Afghanistan who continue to be exposed to unremitting insecurity and violence,” Mr. Alakbarov said. “It is unconscionable for civilians to be targeted indiscriminately as they go about their daily business, gathering for prayers, going to school or the market, or on their way to work.” “I reiterate that directing attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including mosques, is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.” Yesterday, bombs aboard two minibuses in Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh province, killed at least nine people and wounded a further fifteen. Mr. Alakbarov reminds all parties to fully adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law, and calls for accountability for crimes perpetrated. For further information, please contact: Katherine Carey, Deputy Head of Office, OCHA Afghanistan, carey2@un.org, Mobile +93 79 300 3700

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Press Release

31 March 2022

UNFPA scaling up support to save and protect the lives of Afghan women and girls

Kabul, Afghanistan - The people of Afghanistan are facing unprecedented levels of suffering with more than half the population – 24.4 million people – in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The country is facing an economic crisis that has sent prices skyrocketing, driving food insecurity and a malnutrition crisis of unparalleled proportions. The situation of women and girls is particularly dire. Their rights and opportunities have been increasingly restricted and the impacts of recent upheavals and the current crisis are resting disproportionately on their narrow shoulders. Interim funding at the end of 2021 prevented the total collapse of the health system in the country following the withdrawal of development assistance, but women and girls’ access to lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services has been severely diminished especially in remote parts of the country. Over the last two decades, important gains have been made for women and girls including significant declines in one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world and increases in the provision of prenatal and antenatal care, the use of modern methods of birth spacing, and the number of attended births. These gains are now in peril. “Today in Afghanistan, a woman dies every two hours during pregnancy and childbirth from causes that are almost entirely preventable,” said Dr. Aleksandar Sasha Bodiroza, UNFPA Representative in Afghanistan. “UNFPA is committed and ready to expand and scale up our existing sexual and reproductive health service delivery points to reach more women, girls and young people, especially those in the most remote and underserved areas of Afghanistan.” In spite of the challenging context, UNFPA continues to provide essential and life-saving maternal health and protection services, with support from local communities. Between August and December 2021, more than 260,000 people were reached with reproductive health and protection services across the country through family health houses and mobile health clinics and teams. Toll-free hotlines for midwives and young people also remain operational. On 31 March, the United Nations and the Governments of Qatar, the United Kingdom and Germany are convening a virtual high-level pledging event on supporting the humanitarian response in Afghanistan. UNFPA requires US$251.9 million in 2022 to continue and scale up the delivery of maternal health and protection services to meet the urgent needs of 9.3 million Afghans, including 2.2 million women of childbearing age, 2.3 million adolescents and 289,000 women expected to give birth this year. UNFPA media contacts: In New York: Eddie Wright, ewright@unfpa.org; +1 917 831 2074 In Kabul: Zaeem Abdul Rahman, zaeem@unfpa.org; +93 799 714 314 Multimedia contents available on UNFPA’s response in Afghanistan here. Any photos used must be credited to UNFPA.

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