The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that shortages of schools, teachers and resources are creating serious barriers to children’s access to education in Afghanistan. In a statement, the agency said the ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade also limits their opportunities to enter the labor market, particularly in fields such as health care and education. OCHA emphasized that education is more than learning; it is an investment in the future and the well-being of communities. Since taking control of Afghanistan, the de facto authorities have barred women and girls from education and higher studies. In their latest restrictions, they also closed medical institutes to women and girls, even as the country’s health sector faces a shortage of personnel. The measures have kept millions of school-age girls from receiving an education. Women have also been barred from going to sports clubs, restaurants and public baths; being examined by male doctors; traveling without a male guardian; and working for domestic and international non-governmental organizations or even at UN offices in Afghanistan. According to reports, if the ban remains in place, nearly four million girls could be deprived of an education by 2030. It remains unclear when girls will be allowed to return to formal classrooms.

A documentary about the work of Zarqa Yaftali, an Afghan women’s rights activist and advocate for girls’ education, has won a Silver Dolphin Award at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards in France. Educating Hope in Afghanistan: The Story of Zarqa is among the winners of the 2026 awards, which recognize corporate films, documentaries, television productions and online media. The film explores Yaftali’s work on the rights of women and children and her efforts to support girls’ education in Afghanistan. It also tells the story of her determination to continue this work amid restrictions. The film was produced in collaboration with a production company and with support from the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. Yaftali was also among the 2026 recipients of the Zayed Award, recognized for her work supporting the rights of women and children and girls’ education. Born in Badakhshan, Yaftali has spent many years working on women’s and children’s rights and Afghan girls’ access to education. She is currently based in Canada.

The United Nations has said that people do not choose to leave their homes and homelands to migrate. In a message posted on its X account the UN said that most people are forced to make impossible choices: leaving everything behind and migrating in search of safety. The UN added that most migrants want to return to their homeland. The statement said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees helps migrants rebuild their lives every day. Migration has become part of the identity of Afghan citizens over the past several decades. Relative to its population, Afghanistan has one of the world’s highest numbers of people who have migrated. Afghan migrants, most of whom are in Pakistan and Iran, face severe restrictions on access to public services in both countries.

Alexander De Croo, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has warned that the international community turning its back on Afghanistan could have serious consequences over the next five to 10 years. De Croo made the remarks in an interview with Foreign Policy. He said that despite disagreements with Afghanistan’s caretaker authorities, the international community should remain engaged with the country, which is facing a range of economic, climate and humanitarian crises. He added that Afghanistan is contending with an economic contraction of nearly 20 percent, the effects of climate change, natural disasters, tensions with neighboring countries, and the return of nearly five million migrants from Iran and Pakistan over the past 18 months. De Croo said that no country could easily manage a population increase of 12 to 15 percent in a short period, as Afghanistan has experienced because of the return of migrants. The UNDP chief said Afghanistan therefore needs support from the international community to cope with these pressures. He also stressed that the international community should use its support for Afghanistan as leverage to advance the rights of women and girls and expand civic space. Meanwhile, hunger is having a severe impact on people’s lives in Afghanistan. The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that more than 17 million people in the country are facing severe food insecurity.

Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Deputy Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, has said that progress on women’s rights would contribute to Afghanistan’s progress and development. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced the conclusion of DiCarlo’s visit to Afghanistan. It said that in meetings with de facto authorities, she conveyed UN member states’ concerns about the situation of women and girls, particularly their access to education. UNAMA emphasized that the UN deputy chief had also highlighted the challenges facing Afghanistan, including social and economic pressures, climate change and natural disasters. DiCarlo also reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to support people returning to the country. In meetings with civil society representatives and women leaders, DiCarlo expressed appreciation for their vital role in Afghan communities. Since taking control of Afghanistan, the de facto authorities have barred women and girls from education. In their latest restriction, they closed medical institutes to women and girls, even as Afghanistan’s health sector faces a shortage of staff. The move has kept millions of female students from continuing their education. Women have also been barred from going to gyms, restaurants and public bathhouses; receiving medical examinations from male doctors; traveling without a mahram; and working for domestic and international nongovernmental organizations, as well as UN offices in Afghanistan. According to reports, if the ban remains in place, nearly four million girls could be denied an education by 2030.

Alexander De Croo, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has said that preventing girls over the age of 12 from receiving an education in Afghanistan is “completely unacceptable.” De Croo made the remarks in an interview with the news website Foreign Policy. He said excluding half the population from education is also a poor policy from a development perspective. He stressed that Afghanistan needs the capacity and contributions of its entire population to address the country’s many challenges. De Croo added that denying girls an education means failing to make use of the talents and abilities of half the country’s population. The UNDP chief said the organization also supports women’s entrepreneurship and has helped tens of thousands of women start small businesses. He said UNDP speaks with Afghanistan’s caretaker authorities about the rights of women and girls almost every day. Since taking control of Afghanistan, the caretaker authorities have barred women and girls from education. In their latest restriction, they closed medical institutes to women and girls, even as the country’s health sector faces a shortage of staff. The authorities’ actions have left millions of school-age girls without access to education. Women have also been barred from going to gyms, restaurants and public baths; being examined by male doctors; traveling without a male guardian; and working for domestic and international nongovernmental organizations—including at UN offices in Afghanistan. According to reports, if the ban continues, nearly four million girls could be deprived of an education by 2030.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that 266 million people around the world are facing acute food insecurity. In a post on its X account, the agency said that as food insecurity rises, public support has become increasingly important in the fight against hunger. The WFP added that, alongside governments and businesses, contributions from individuals have become an important source of support for its mission to combat hunger. It said this support is particularly important at a time when millions of people worldwide are facing severe food shortages. The organization stressed that backing its work to fight hunger and meet people’s food needs around the world is essential. Meanwhile, hunger is having a severe impact on people’s lives in Afghanistan. According to figures released by the WFP, more than 17 million people in the country are facing acute food insecurity.

UN Women says women and girls in Afghanistan make up 60 percent of those who may face food insecurity as conflict in the Middle East escalates. In a report, the agency said that by the end of 2026, an additional 11.7 million women and girls in 28 countries, including Afghanistan, could face food insecurity. UN Women also said that around 95 percent of women in Afghanistan are outside the labour market. The report said that around 80 percent of employed women work in vulnerable jobs. The agency added that rising energy, fertilizer, transport and food costs caused by disruptions to trade routes could put further pressure on families and humanitarian operations. To reduce the effects of food insecurity, the agency said women must retain access to food and livelihood resources, and their needs and experiences should be given greater consideration in response programmes. It also called for tensions to be reduced and international law to be respected. The United Nations had previously projected that more than 17 million people in Afghanistan would face “acute food insecurity” this year, with the crisis disproportionately affecting women and children. The UN requested $1.71 billion to address the situation, but less than 20 percent of the funding had been secured in the first half of this year.