Afghanistan humanitarian crisis deepens, UN official says
A UN official says aid has fallen to $570 million so far in 2026 from $2 billion in 2023, as returns, schooling limits and a rise in opium production add pressure.
UN official Bruno Lemarquis says humanitarian needs in Afghanistan are expected to rise sharply in 2027.
Humanitarian aid fell from $2 billion in 2023 to $1 billion in 2025 and has reached $570 million so far in 2026.
Over 2.6 million girls have been denied secondary education since 2021, and female university enrolment stands at zero.
6.7 million nationals have returned to Afghanistan since 2020, many forcibly expelled, with a large portion coming from Pakistan and Iran.
Afghan women working for the UN have been barred from UN premises since September 2025, and the ban has not been lifted.