KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, as restrictions on women’s rights, mass returns of migrants, economic hardship and declining international assistance place further pressure on the country’s already fragile services.
Bruno Lemarquis, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Humanitarian Coordinator, said on Friday that the country is at a “difficult crossroads” five years after the Taliban returned to power.
Speaking at a briefing, Lemarquis said that despite relative stability and security, Afghanistan continue to face serious economic, human rights and humanitarian challenges that threaten its future.
He said more than 2.6 million girls has been denied access to secondary education since 2021, while female university enrolment has fallen to zero. Economic difficulties have also forced some families to stop sending their children to school.
The UN official further warned that the return of approximately 6.7 million Afghans since 2020 has placed additional pressure on the country’s limited resources and public services. Many were forcibly expelled from neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran.
He said some returnees never lived in Afghanistan before and urgently need legal documentation, protection and employment opportunities to rebuild their lives.
Lemarquis also raised concerns over a 330% increase in opium poppy production in 2025, citing a recent UN report. He said efforts to eliminate poppy cultivation would require alternative sources of income for farmers who depend on the crop for their livelihoods.
He warned that humanitarian needs are expected to rise sharply in 2027 due to mass returns, regional instability and the effects of a stronger El Niño weather pattern. Meanwhile, humanitarian funding has dropped from $2 billion in 2023 to $1 billion in 2025 and just $570 million so far in 2026, he said.
Lemarquis said around 700 of Afghanistan’s 1,900 primary healthcare facilities are expected to close between 2025 and 2026 due to funding shortages, about 40% of the total facilities operating across the country.
He urged the international community not to abandon Afghanistan, warning that the crisis could have consequences beyond the country’s borders, affecting regional security, stability and migration routes.
