OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has warned that increasing restrictions on women and girls are further limiting their access to vital and life-saving services. Olga Churko, the head of the OCHA Afghanistan office, stated in a video that Afghanistan currently has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Expressing deep concern about the current situation, she announced that Afghanistan, with approximately 600 deaths per 100,000 births, has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis has disproportionately affected women and girls. She emphasized the importance of having female staff in the health system, stating: "There are growing concerns that restrictions on women's and girls' participation in public spheres and job opportunities will further limit both humanitarian responses and the ability of women and girls to access and benefit from vital and life-saving services." OCHA in Afghanistan referred to a hospital in Bamyan province that has the only neonatal intensive care unit in the region, adding: "In this center, health workers and aid providers, many of whom are women, are doing everything they can to save the lives of mothers and newborns. The sustainability of these services is crucial for saving lives." The agency had previously emphasized that investing in the education and employment of female health workers and strengthening primary health services is essential for the immediate reduction of maternal mortality. It is noteworthy that since the return of the caretaker government to power, extensive restrictions have been imposed on women's social and professional activities. UNICEF also warned in April that with the continuation of restrictions, Afghanistan will face a shortage of 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers by 2030. These restrictions have not only reduced women's presence as healthcare workers but have also posed serious challenges to women's access to essential medical services.

The humanitarian branch of the United Nations has recently announced that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. This organization stated in a message on its X account that a large number of women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face serious barriers in accessing health services. The United Nations assured support for mothers and newborns from healthcare workers, adding that these healthcare workers need support and that the services they provide must be expanded. The shortage of female healthcare workers, especially midwives, along with the lack of standard medical facilities, is cited as one of the most serious challenges to women's health, particularly for pregnant women and mothers in remote areas of Afghanistan. It is worth noting that Afghanistan is among the countries facing high maternal and neonatal mortality rates. The lack of medical facilities, limited access to specialized training, and the long distances from villages to medical centers create significant challenges in providing services to pregnant mothers. In many areas, women give birth at home or in small clinics, and midwives often work with minimal resources and without immediate access to specialized guidance.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has recently announced that over 8.8 million children in Afghanistan are simultaneously exposed to at least three climate hazards, including floods, droughts, heat waves, extreme heat, storms, and dust. In a published report, the organization stated that more than 75% of children in Afghanistan are at risk of drought, over 50% face longer and more frequent heat waves, and more than 1.7 million children are exposed to riverine flooding. Tajuddin Owais, UNICEF's representative in Afghanistan, emphasized: "Children in Afghanistan are currently at the forefront of the climate crisis. What makes this situation particularly dangerous is the simultaneous occurrence of climate hazards alongside the high level of vulnerability among children." The report continues by noting that approximately 21 million children live in Afghanistan, and 41% of these children are facing simultaneous climate hazards. The agency also pointed out that Afghanistan ranks highest in South Asia in terms of children's vulnerability. UNICEF stressed that these hazards are not just abstract environmental threats to children; they disrupt the services that children need for survival, education, and health. According to UNICEF's report, the child nutrition crisis in Afghanistan, including millions of children suffering from acute malnutrition and requiring treatment, increases their vulnerability to climate hazards. UNICEF added: "Droughts, floods, and extreme heat weaken food systems and reduce access to safe water—both factors that lead to acute malnutrition." The report states that nearly half of the children in Afghanistan live in severe food poverty, and gaps in vaccination, environmental health services, and hygiene further increase risks for vulnerable children. Moreover, UNICEF highlighted the importance of educational services, child support, and social protection, stating that safe and climate-resilient schools can help children continue their education during climate shocks. The UNICEF representative in Afghanistan stated: "For Afghanistan, the message is clear: protecting children from the climate crisis requires sustainable investments in services that keep them healthy, well-nourished, safe, supported, and educated." He emphasized strengthening climate-resilient systems and services in health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and education sectors.

OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has warned that approximately 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in Afghanistan will face malnutrition this year. In a report released, the agency stated that the peak season for acute malnutrition begins in July and will last for at least three to four months. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that without immediate expansion of preventive and life-saving nutritional interventions, the nutritional situation in Afghanistan will worsen in the remaining months of 2026. The report notes that severe malnutrition has increased in 26 out of 34 provinces in Afghanistan compared to 2025. OCHA emphasized that food insecurity, limited access to nutritional services, the prevalence of diseases, and water and sanitation issues are major factors exacerbating this crisis. Additionally, the agency predicts that in 2026, around 3.7 million children in Afghanistan will suffer from severe malnutrition, which includes hundreds of thousands of cases of severe and moderate acute malnutrition at risk. OCHA and its nutrition sector partners in Afghanistan state that the country is facing one of the largest nutritional crises in the region. According to the latest assessments, the level of malnutrition in many provinces has reached a critical stage, raising concerns about the health of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children.

As the month of Muharram approaches, the "Shia Scholars Council of Afghanistan" has stated that it expects the security officials of the caretaker government to create a safe environment for the mourning ceremonies of Muharram and Ashura. In a statement released the council emphasized that the current government should pay attention to the religious rights of all citizens. This request comes at a time when the current government has imposed restrictions on Shia mourning rituals during the month of Muharram in recent years. In previous years, these ceremonies have faced security threats and have often been targeted by deadly attacks. Attacks against Shias in Afghanistan are primarily claimed by the ISIS group. The council stated: "We expect the security officials of the country to provide a grand and secure environment for the observance of Muharram and Ashura and to respect the religious rights of all citizens." Additionally, the council has urged organizers and mourning groups to fully cooperate with security officials to ensure that mourning ceremonies are held in a calm, secure, and unrestricted atmosphere. The Shia Scholars Council of Afghanistan has also called on speakers at mourning ceremonies to refrain from discussing topics that could cause division among the Muslim residents of the country. The council stated: "We urge esteemed speakers, preachers, and reciters to educate the youth about the true goals and messages of Ashura—namely justice-seeking, accountability, and defense of Islamic values—with care and a sense of responsibility, and to avoid presenting any content or statements that could create divisions among the Muslim residents of the country." In the past five years, severe restrictions have been imposed on Shias. The caretaker government has removed the official recognition of Ja'fari jurisprudence, personal status laws for Shia individuals, and Ja'fari legal subjects from Afghanistan's educational system.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that approximately 3.7 million children in Afghanistan are facing acute malnutrition. In a report published the agency stated that without preventive and life-saving nutritional interventions, the nutritional situation is likely to worsen throughout the year 2026. The announcement indicated that the nutritional status in Afghanistan is rapidly deteriorating, with the rate of acute malnutrition increasing in 26 out of 34 provinces compared to the year 2025. The UN humanitarian coordination office noted that this deterioration has occurred before the peak season for acute malnutrition (July to September), indicating an early and escalating crisis. The report highlighted that factors contributing to this situation include inappropriate breastfeeding practices, inadequate diet and care for children, increasing food insecurity, high disease prevalence, lack of access to water, health services, and sanitation, as well as reduced access to nutritional services. It further stated that nearly 40% of infants under six months are hospitalized for treatment due to severe malnutrition, reflecting increased vulnerability in the youngest age group and mounting pressure on health services. OCHA reported that children under two years old have been disproportionately affected, accounting for 83% of severe malnutrition cases and 77% of moderate malnutrition cases. It is also estimated that 19% of cases fall into the high-risk category. OCHA projected that around 3.7 million children will experience malnutrition in 2026, including 942,000 cases of severe malnutrition, 707,404 cases of moderate malnutrition at risk, and two million cases of moderate malnutrition in the early stages. Additionally, it is expected that 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women will also be affected.

As approximately 1,728 days have passed since schools have been closed to girls from the sixth grade, Afghanistan's Human Rights Watch has urged for the opportunity for girls to return to school. In a message posted on its X account, the organization stated that a generation is still waiting behind closed school doors. Afghanistan's Human Rights Watch has previously called multiple times for the restoration of girls' right to education in Afghanistan. For nearly five years, human rights organizations and governments have consistently demanded the reopening of schools for girls in Afghanistan; however, the interim government has yet to respond to these requests. It is worth noting that the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education. In its latest restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, while the health sector across Afghanistan is facing a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of female students being deprived of education. Additionally, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even at UN offices in Afghanistan. According to reports, if this ban continues, nearly four million girls may be deprived of education by 2030.

Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the caretaker government, has emphasized the importance of educating the people about religion and belief, stating that the strength of the Islamic system is achieved through religious education. Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada made these remarks during a meeting of the current government's council of ministers in Kandahar, addressing the officials: "Strive to teach the people about religion, engage in religious discussions, remain steadfast in piety, do not stray from piety, act with humility, provide the people with religious awareness, and protect them from the influence of immoral and incorrect ideas." Hamidullah Fetrat, the deputy spokesperson for the current government, stated today (Saturday, June 13) in a press release that the leader of the government has repeatedly emphasized the importance of teaching religion and belief to the people during the Kandahar meeting. In part of his remarks, he said: "Educate the people about religion, Sharia, and the Islamic system, and take good care of yourselves." Additionally, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada reiterated that government officials should teach the people the "correct belief." He stated: "Spread religious knowledge throughout the country, revive religious knowledge through which the Islamic system will be strengthened. Strive to disseminate knowledge everywhere and keep religion alive." The leader of the government has asked officials of this group to thoroughly study his directives and make complete efforts to implement them and convey them to the people. He also urged government officials to demonstrate Islam and religion to the people through their actions. He told the ministers: "Educate the people about religion, Sharia, and the Islamic system, take good care of yourselves, and also look after your subordinates. We must strive to express Islam and religion to the people through our actions.