NEW YORK: The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan is heading towards an even deeper humanitarian crisis as international aid declines, millions of Afghans return from neighbouring countries, and restrictions imposed by the Taliban continue to undermine women’s rights and access to essential services.
Bruno Lemarquis, the UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, sounded the alarm during a news conference at UN Headquarters in New York, warning that the country’s worsening conditions could have consequences far beyond its borders.
He said humanitarian needs were expected to rise sharply in 2027, driven by mass returns, regional instability and the growing threat of extreme weather conditions.
Aid Funding Collapses
International assistance to Afghanistan has fallen sharply, leaving humanitarian organisations struggling to meet growing needs.
According to Lemarquis, funding declined from $2 billion in 2023 to $1 billion in 2025. Only $570 million had been received in 2026 at the time of his briefing.
The funding shortfall is threatening access to basic services, particularly healthcare. Around 40% of Afghanistan’s primary healthcare facilities are expected to close between 2025 and 2026, equivalent to approximately 700 of the country’s 1,900 health posts.
The UN official urged the international community not to abandon Afghanistan, warning that further cuts would deepen the suffering of an already vulnerable population.
Women Shut Out
Lemarquis highlighted the Taliban’s continuing restrictions on women and girls, saying millions had been denied access to education, employment and public life.
More than 2.6 million girls have been deprived of secondary education since 2021, while female university enrolment has fallen to zero.
Economic hardship is also affecting boys’ education, with some families unable to afford to send their children to school.
Asked about the Taliban’s justification for restricting women’s rights, Lemarquis pointed to what he described as a combination of religious extremism and longstanding practices of control and discrimination.
He said repeated appeals by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Muslim-majority countries and Islamic scholars had failed to produce any noticeable change in Taliban policies.
Restrictions have also affected Afghan women working for the United Nations. Female UN employees have been barred from entering UN premises across Afghanistan since September 2025.
Millions Return
The return of approximately 6.7 million Afghans since 2020 has placed further pressure on the country’s limited resources and already strained public services.
Many returnees were forcibly expelled from neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran.
Lemarquis said returning families urgently needed legal documentation, protection and employment opportunities to rebuild their lives.
The influx is adding to the challenges facing a country already struggling with poverty, unemployment and limited access to essential services.
Opium Production
The UN official also highlighted the changing situation surrounding Afghanistan’s illicit drug trade.
Opium cultivation fell significantly after the Taliban imposed a ban in 2022. However, a recent UN report showed that production increased by 330% in 2025, suggesting that cultivation had continued through concealed methods.
Lemarquis stressed that enforcement alone would not solve the problem, arguing that farmers dependent on opium needed sustainable alternative livelihoods.
El Niño Threat
The UN warned that a stronger El Niño weather pattern could further threaten food security, livelihoods and access to essential services in 2027.
Combined with declining humanitarian funding, mass returns and regional instability, the climate threat could intensify pressure on Afghanistan’s already fragile economy and public infrastructure.
Lemarquis urged international donors to maintain support, warning that the consequences of Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian situation could spill across borders, affecting regional security, stability and migration.
