Afghanistan in Collapse: Over 23 Million Lives at Risk After Cuts in Humanitarian Aid

UNICEF ©Samuel Sanchez.

In an increasingly catastrophic situation, Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Afghanistan, revealed a devastating scenario at the Security Council. The impact of funding cuts has already led to the closure of 200 health units, leaving about 1.8 million Afghans without access to essential medical care. The future looks bleak: more than half of the population, or 23 million people, will be dependent on humanitarian aid in 2025.

The head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) warned that the crisis is deepening with the rapid reduction in international assistance, while health services, including vital child malnutrition programs, are being severely limited. At the same time, the population lives in constant fear of further repression by the Taliban, which continues to invade citizens' private lives.

Despite the World Bank's pledge of $240 million for healthcare until 2026, Otunbayeva expressed great concern about the long-term impact of this disruption. The suspension of support may cause the progress made in the last three years — such as access to basic services and social inclusion — to unravel, forcing Afghans to once again resort to historical survival mechanisms, such as migration.

Women, in particular, continue to be the target of restrictions imposed by the Taliban, which violate Islamic norms and are even criticized by regional organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The ban on girls' education is entering its fourth year, a measure that, according to Otunbayeva, has no religious basis but rather a political one.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the Afghan population faces not only violence and poverty but also a growing denial of rights, pushing the country to the brink of collapse. The international community must act before the desperation becomes unsustainable.