Naseer Ahmad Faiq, the head of Afghanistan's mission to the United Nations, has recently called on the organization to increase life-saving assistance for the flood victims in Nuristan. Mr. Faiq today (Wednesday, July 22), expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of this incident through a post on his X account. The Afghan representative to the UN appreciated the ongoing efforts of humanitarian responders who are working to assess needs and provide immediate assistance. In part of his message, he emphasized: "I urge UN agencies and humanitarian partners to rapidly increase life-saving assistance for the affected communities." This comes as deadly and devastating floods swept through eastern Afghanistan on Monday afternoon. The provinces of Nuristan, Nangarhar, and Laghman were affected by these floods. The floods caused the highest human casualties and financial losses in Parun, the capital of Nuristan province. The Disaster Management Authority has confirmed that 23 people have died, 80 have been injured, and approximately 100 others are still missing. During the flooding, seven houses were completely destroyed, and 23 houses were partially damaged. Additionally, 70 shops and 11 hotels in Parun city were either fully or partially damaged, and 40 vehicles were destroyed.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has announced that it is providing assistance to vulnerable families in Afghanistan through the "Cash Transfer Program for Mothers and Children" to help them meet their basic needs and gain better access to health and nutrition services. In a message posted on its X account, UNICEF stated that the cash transfer program for mothers and children aims to support vulnerable families in Afghanistan. The announcement mentioned that this program, supported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and humanitarian funds, helps families acquire nutritious food and other essential needs. The United Nations Children's Fund emphasized that this program also improves access for mothers and children to health and nutrition services. This organization added that every child deserves a healthy start in life, and supporting mothers plays a crucial role in ensuring children's health. It is worth noting that Afghanistan faces one of the highest rates of child malnutrition and maternal mortality in the world. A decline in humanitarian aid in recent years has left millions of families struggling to secure food and access health services.

The International Federation of Human Rights Defenders in Exile has warned, on the occasion of Nelson Mandela International Day, about the ongoing widespread violations of human rights in Afghanistan, particularly the deprivation of women and girls from education and other fundamental rights. This federation has called on the international community to take immediate and practical action to support at-risk individuals and prevent the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees. Emphasizing the values of justice, freedom, equality, and human dignity, the International Federation of Human Rights Defenders in Exile stated that women and girls in Afghanistan continue to be deprived of their most basic rights, including the right to education and participation in society, and that this situation requires a serious response from the global community. The federation described the pressures on journalists, civil activists, and human rights defenders in Afghanistan as concerning. It expressed deep concern for the situation of thousands of Afghan refugees, including human rights defenders, journalists, former security forces, judges, prosecutors, and artists, especially those residing in Pakistan. According to this organization, these individuals face the risk of expulsion and being returned to unsafe conditions in Afghanistan. The International Federation of Human Rights Defenders in Exile has urged the international community, the United Nations, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and other human rights entities to support at-risk individuals by preventing the expulsion of Afghan refugees, adhering to the principle of non-refoulement, and creating safe and sustainable pathways. July 18th, the birthday of Nelson Mandela, leader of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, has been designated by the United Nations as Nelson Mandela International Day. This occasion is celebrated to promote justice, freedom, equality, and human dignity, and every year human rights organizations use it to draw attention to the human rights situation in various countries, including Afghanistan.

The National Disaster Management Authority of Afghanistan has recently announced that at least 20 people have died and 80 others have been injured following a flood in the city of Parun, the capital of Nuristan province. Mohammad Yousuf Hamad, spokesperson for the authority, stated this evening (Monday, July 20) in a press release that more than 100 people are also reported missing due to the flood in this city. He did not provide details regarding the identity or gender of the victims, the injured, or those missing. Earlier, the office of the Nuristan governor announced that the mayor of Parun, along with several of his guards, is among those missing. Fereydoun Samim, spokesperson for the governor, said that the flood has damaged the municipality building, shops, homes, telecommunications offices, and bridges, resulting in at least $36 million in losses. Officials indicate that the casualty and damage figures from this flood are preliminary and may increase. The city of Parun and some surrounding villages experienced heavy rainfall around 3:00 PM today, which led to the devastating flood.

The United Nations Development Programme has announced that with a more than tenfold increase in the number of women-owned businesses, over 10,000 women in Afghanistan now hold business licenses. In a report released today, the organization stated that prior to 2021, only 600 to 1,000 women had business licenses, but now more than 10,000 women are licensed. The report noted that nearly 120,000 women are engaged in economic activities without official licenses. However, the UN agency added that by 2024, less than seven percent of women in Afghanistan will be employed. The UN Development Programme indicated that the increase in women-managed businesses does not mean that opportunities for them have increased; rather, this situation reflects that after other employment avenues were closed, businesses became the only remaining option for women. The agency emphasized: "Women who aspired to become engineers or lawyers have turned to carpet weaving or soap production; however, they face restrictions in this sector as well, such as bans on long-distance travel, limitations on interactions with customers, suppliers, or bank employees without a male guardian." The UN Development Programme stated that the forced closure of beauty salons has devastated the livelihoods of nearly 60,000 women. The agency added that less than seven percent of women in Afghanistan have access to bank accounts; as a result, most of them are forced to rely on informal cash networks, family savings, or international aid for financial support. The UN Development Programme mentioned that in recent years, it has supported over 90,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises through grants, equipment provision, and business development services.

Local sources from Nimroz province report that 19 citizens of the country have gone missing in the "Margo" plain while attempting to illegally travel to Iran. At least two sources have stated that government forces began searching for these individuals by helicopter since yesterday (Saturday, July 18), but so far they have only found the bodies of five people among the sand dunes. Sources indicate that the search for the bodies of the remaining 14 individuals is still ongoing. It is reported that these individuals had set out towards Iran via this route in the middle of last week but were unable to reach their destination and crossed the border, disappearing in the vast Margo plain. As of now, the identities of these individuals and which province in Afghanistan they hailed from have not been determined. Additionally, images circulating on social media show the bodies of these individuals lying in the sand, with some bodies covered by sand. It is said that this group of young people, totaling 19, was trying to illegally travel to Iran through the plains of Helmand and Nimroz but lost their way. Due to the heat and thirst, some of them perished while others went missing. Previously, there have been multiple reports of Afghan citizens dying while attempting to travel illegally to Iran. It is worth noting that rising unemployment and poverty, along with the suspension of legal visa issuance for ordinary Afghan citizens to Iran, are cited as major factors driving citizens to undertake illegal journeys to Iran.

World Vision has recently announced that it is working to improve the welfare and health of children in Afghanistan with support from the health, livelihoods, and water sectors. In a message posted on its Facebook account the organization stated that Jean-Baptiste Kamate, the head of field operations, recently traveled to Afghanistan to meet with Eleanor Monbiot, the regional leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and to observe the organization's activities. World Vision emphasized that after 25 years of operation in Afghanistan, it remains committed to creating sustainable changes in the lives of children and families in the country. Based on concerns from international organizations, especially the United Nations, Afghanistan is currently experiencing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. The organization added that more than half of Afghanistan's population requires humanitarian assistance, and nearly five million children under five years old, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, are suffering from severe malnutrition. It is noteworthy that the maternal mortality rate in this country is 521 per 100,000 live births. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's healthcare system has faced extensive challenges for decades, including a shortage of medical facilities, specialized doctors, and medications. In many remote provinces of the country, medical centers are still lacking.

Farah Abbasi, a researcher in the Afghanistan section of Human Rights Watch, has recently stated that Afghanistan's economic crisis is deepening, and millions of people in the country are facing the impending hunger crisis. In a statement, Abbasi called for immediate action to provide financial assistance for humanitarian operations and urged the de facto government of Afghanistan to lift restrictions on women. She emphasized, "Millions of people are affected by the impending hunger crisis." She pointed out that "repressive policies," particularly the restrictions imposed on working women and especially employees of United Nations-related organizations, are exacerbating the crisis. She added, "The current government, by limiting women's access to employment in the humanitarian sector, has made it more difficult for aid organizations to reach the people. Since only women are allowed to provide assistance to women, households led by women are suffering from hunger." This Human Rights Watch researcher has urged donor governments to take immediate action to fund humanitarian operations in Afghanistan. The organization has cited the forced expulsion of millions of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries as part of the reason for the intensifying crisis, noting that many of the five million people who were compelled to return from Iran and Pakistan over the past two years have gone to areas already struggling with drought and limited job opportunities. Farah Abbasi stated that returning migrants are now putting additional pressure on already strained communities. She also called for support for Afghan migrants and urged governments to ensure that returns are "voluntary, safe, dignified, and accompanied by ongoing support for the reintegration of returnees." Additionally, Farah Abbasi has called on government officials to immediately lift all bans on women's rights, including restrictions on movement and employment that hinder their access to aid and economic security, including food. The United Nations had previously predicted that more than 17 million people out of Afghanistan's total population would face "acute food insecurity" this year, with this crisis disproportionately affecting women and children. The UN had requested $1.71 billion in funding to address this situation, but less than 20 percent of this budget was secured in the first half of this year.

The UN Women’s section has warned that more than half of the organizations active in supporting women in Afghanistan may cease their operations within the next year. In a published report, the agency stated that a decrease in international funding and restrictions on women’s work and mobility threaten vital services for women and girls in Afghanistan. The report indicates that women-led organizations represent the last means for women and girls to access health services, psychological support, vocational training, humanitarian aid, and income-generating programs. UN Women further emphasized that restrictions on women’s presence in public life have forced these organizations to change the way they deliver their services. Additionally, an assessment of 74 active women’s organizations shows that nearly three-quarters of them are facing reduced funding by 2025. The report states that two-thirds of these organizations have indicated that their remaining budgets will only last for six months or less. Half of them have not received any new funding since the beginning of 2025, and 92 percent have lost some of their staff. UN Women has noted that the consequences of reduced funding are already being felt in the lives of women and girls. Sixty-six percent of organizations reported that many women who previously accessed their services no longer have access to them. The report highlights that the decline in global aid has not only put pressure on women’s organizations in Afghanistan. In a separate report, UN Women recently announced that over the past year, at least one million women and girls in crisis-affected countries have lost access to lifesaving services due to reduced funding. According to this report, nearly 90 percent of women's organizations can no longer meet existing needs. This comes at a time when demand for their services has sharply increased since the beginning of 2025.