Humanitarian access issues surging in Afghanistan, UN agency says

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a 30% increase in incidents affecting humanitarian access in Afghanistan in January 2024 compared to December 2023.

In January, the UN agency recorded 137 incidents, up from 97 the previous month. OCHA stated that 75 projects were halted in January due to access issues, with 60% still paused as of February.

The main issues reported included interference in humanitarian operations, environmental obstacles, and limitations on people’s access to services. Notably, 22 incidents involved restrictions on female participation, such as constraints at distribution sites and health facilities, as well as enforcement of strict dress codes for women.

The Taliban have not responded to OCHA’s findings. Since the previous government’s collapse, Afghanistan has been grappling with significant economic difficulties, with more than half of its population in need of humanitarian assistance.

Residents in Herat have expressed worries about growing unemployment and inadequate aid, complaining about lack of government support, excluding women from aid, and poor attention to women’s health. This cpmes as international aid to Afghanistan has decreased following the Taliban’s implementation of restrictive policies affecting women and girls, limiting their opportunities for education and work.