UN officials report Afghanistan faces severe humanitarian needs, with widespread hunger, malnutrition, water shortages, and educational restrictions, especially for girls.

Joyce Msuya, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the ongoing and severe humanitarian needs facing the people of Afghanistan. Speaking at the UN Security Council on Monday, June 23, she outlined how decades of conflict, structural poverty, climate crises, and the severe restrictions on women and girls have worsened the country’s crisis.

Msuya noted that Afghanistan’s maternal mortality rate is more than 2.5 times the global average, while widespread drought continues to threaten large parts of the country. She also emphasized that one in five Afghans faces hunger, and three million people are severely malnourished, with nearly 3.7 million children unable to attend school.

Among those affected by educational restrictions, Msuya pointed out that 2.2 million girls over the age of 11 are prohibited from attending school due to the Taliban’s policies. These ongoing barriers significantly impact the future of Afghanistan’s youth, especially girls, who face the brunt of the educational crisis.

Msuya also warned that Kabul may become the first capital city in modern history to face severe water shortages. She revealed that groundwater levels in Kabul have dropped by 30 meters, and nearly half of the city’s wells have run dry, exacerbating the growing water crisis.

In her remarks, Msuya stressed the vital role of Afghanistan’s women in humanitarian operations. Despite facing numerous threats and restrictions, Afghan women continue to serve on the frontlines of humanitarian aid, reaching marginalized communities that would otherwise be left without support.

Msuya further highlighted that the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund has recently allocated $2.4 million to local organizations, including those often overlooked. This financial support is crucial to maintaining vital services amid ongoing challenges.

Dorothy Shea, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, also addressed the meeting, stating that the Afghanistan’s people continue to suffer from poverty, unemployment, lack of basic services, and the impacts of natural disasters. She added that these issues are further aggravated by the restrictive policies of the Taliban. The international community faces a growing challenge in responding to Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.

Amid rising Tehran-Tel Aviv tensions, Bennett called for protecting vulnerable Afghan migrants in Iran from potential harm and violence.

On the ninth day of conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett urged all parties to protect Afghan migrants in Iran, warning of serious risks to their safety and calling for immediate humanitarian safeguards. The appeal came through a post on X on Saturday, June 21, where Bennett voiced growing concern over the migrant community’s safety.

Bennett emphasized that both Iran and Israel must exercise restraint and comply with international law. He warned that hostilities could threaten non-combatants and stressed the need for safeguards to protect those at heightened risk .

According to Iranian health authorities, three Afghan migrants—identified as Hafiz Bostani, Abdulwali, and Habibullah Jamshidi—have been confirmed killed in recent cross-border strikes. Their deaths have further fueled concerns about civilian casualties in the broader region.

Amid ongoing airstrikes by Israel, Afghan migrants in Iran find themselves uniquely vulnerable. Human rights observers say that migrants lack the legal protections necessary to shield them from collateral damage during military operations.

Bennett urged both Iran and Israel to ensure humanitarian safeguards are in place and emphasized that protecting civilians—including displaced migrants and refugees—must be a core priority in conflict zones.

This call from Bennett underscores the complex and evolving threats faced by Afghan migrants amid regional escalation. With the Iran–Israel conflict intensifying, experts warn host countries must urgently reinforce protections for vulnerable populations. Failure to act could result in further loss of civilian lives and exacerbate existing humanitarian crises.

Amnesty International urges Pakistan to stop deporting Afghan refugees, renew PoR cards, and uphold international laws protecting those seeking safety.

Amnesty International on Friday called on Pakistan to immediately stop deporting Afghan refugees and extend their Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. The call was made on World Refugee Day as part of an appeal to respect international law.

The human rights group stated that Pakistan has forcibly returned over 1,080,312 Afghan refugees since October 2023. Amnesty emphasized that such deportations violate the international legal principle of non-refoulement, which protects refugees from being returned to unsafe countries.

According to Amnesty, around 1.4 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan hold PoR cards, which will expire in the next ten days. Amnesty urged the Pakistani government to renew these cards immediately to prevent further insecurity and displacement.

Amnesty warned that PoR holders face serious risks if forced to return to Afghanistan. The organization cited credible reports indicating they could face extrajudicial killings, torture, and gender-based persecution upon repatriation.

Amnesty’s report also raised concerns over the psychological and social stress experienced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan due to prolonged uncertainty. The group highlighted the need for international cooperation to resolve this humanitarian crisis.

With the Afghan refugee crisis still unfolding, Pakistan faces mounting pressure from the international community to honor its commitments to refugee protection. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has similarly urged Islamabad to allow more time for refugees to secure their legal status and safety.

Experts say that unless Pakistan extends PoR cards and halts deportations, vulnerable refugees will continue to face life-threatening dangers.