Local sources from the Lal wa Sarjangal district of Ghor province say that the caretaker government forces have prohibited the sale of agricultural products, including wheat, lentils, and chickpeas, to residents of other districts and provinces. At least three sources from Lal wa Sarjangal reported to the Goharshad media today (Saturday, November 5) that local officials of the current government have informed farmers and shopkeepers in this district that they are not allowed to sell their agricultural products to residents of other districts and provinces, and that all their products must be sold within Lal wa Sarjangal. One source stated that the caretaker government forces came to the market in Lal and warned the people that anyone who disobeys this order would be arrested and punished. Another source mentioned that government forces arrested a resident of Lal wa Sarjangal for selling wheat to a resident of the Sang Takht and Bandar Daikundi district due to this prohibition. He added that the government forces also turned back a vehicle carrying sold wheat from the road, and the person who was arrested was released after a few hours through the mediation of local elders from Lal wa Sarjangal. The source emphasized that this order from the current government has created many problems for the people of this district. It remains unclear whether this order was issued by officials of the caretaker government in Kabul or if local officials made such a decision "arbitrarily." The source added, "Last year, local officials also imposed restrictions on the sale of certain agricultural items by the people of Lal wa Sarjangal." The source stressed that if these restrictions are not resolved, farmers in this district will face numerous challenges. Additionally, one source stated: "The livelihoods of the people in this district depend on income from selling agricultural products, and if they cannot sell these products, they will face many difficulties. People use the income from their agricultural sales to purchase other necessary goods." The source noted that in addition to "ushr" (a form of tax), current government forces collect 10,000 Afghanis from vehicles transporting agricultural products in this district. Residents of Lal wa Sarjangal are calling for the caretaker government's attention to the situation of the residents of this district and for their complaints to be addressed. Local officials of the current government in Ghor have not yet commented on this matter. It is worth mentioning that residents of the Hazara-inhabited Lal wa Sarjangal district have previously complained about discriminatory treatment from the current government.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, reports that cases of polio in Afghanistan have significantly increased in 2024. In a published report, the organization stated that by mid-October of this year, 22 cases of polio had been recorded nationwide, indicating a notable rise compared to previous years. The report further explains that this increase is primarily due to poor sanitation conditions and insufficient access to safe drinking water, particularly in rural areas. UNICEF emphasized that it launched a project in early 2024 in regions of eastern Afghanistan where water samples tested positive for the polio virus in 2023. The aim of this project is to improve sanitation, enhance hygiene, and mobilize communities to combat the spread of the polio virus. Additionally, the report notes that as a result of this initiative, there have been significant changes in the number of water samples testing positive for the polio virus; while in 2023, positive water samples more than doubled, this number has drastically decreased since the project's implementation in 2024. UNICEF stated that although the overall polio statistics in Afghanistan continue to rise, none of the 22 confirmed cases in 2024 are from areas where UNICEF's pilot project has been implemented. The report suggests that if this initiative is expanded to other regions of Afghanistan, it could provide hope for reducing polio cases nationwide. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has reported 22 positive polio cases in Afghanistan this year. According to existing reports, only 12 positive polio cases have been recorded in Kandahar this year. Polio cases have also been documented in Urozgan and Helmand in the south, as well as in Kunar and Nuristan provinces in the east of the country. Last year, six positive cases of childhood paralysis were recorded in Afghanistan, all in Nangarhar province. It should be noted that currently, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world where polio has not been eradicated. So far this year, there have been reports of 28 positive polio cases in Pakistan, with a significant portion occurring in the border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center reports that following a directive issued by the local administration of Badghis province prohibiting the broadcasting of live images, all television activities in this province have ceased. In a statement, the center noted that local authorities from the caretaker government in Badghis issued an order banning the use of live images by media outlets and journalists, limiting media activities to written and audio content. The statement described this decision as a severely regressive step that restricts media freedom. The Afghanistan Journalists Center has urged the current government officials to reconsider this decision. It was further stated that this directive was officially communicated by the Department of Information and Culture in Badghis via messaging apps like WhatsApp to media outlets and journalists. The center emphasized that the message from the Badghis Department of Information and Culture indicated that media should only use inanimate images, such as buildings and landscapes related to news. Additionally, the statement mentioned that following this order, the national television under the control of the current government in Badghis has been shut down, and the only private television station in the province has also ceased operations. Other media outlets, including radios and independent journalists, have been compelled to comply with this directive. It was also noted that photography and video interviews with local officials in Badghis have been prohibited. The Afghanistan Journalists Center has called for a review of this issue and the lifting of media restrictions imposed over the past three years. The center stated that media should be able to operate freely and in accordance with the country’s media laws. This comes as Badghis becomes the third province after Kandahar and Takhar to officially implement such a ban. The center has reported signs of the enforcement of these restrictions in Helmand, Logar, Wardak, and Daikundi provinces as well. In August of this year, the caretaker government approved a new law titled "Commanding Good," which prohibits the broadcasting of live images in its seventeenth article.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has stated that it has provided training opportunities for over 10,000 individuals, including thousands of women farmers in Herat, to improve saffron cultivation. In a report, the agency mentioned that it conducted this training program under the title "Comprehensive Pest Management Program" for 10,090 farmers in Herat, where they received essential education on saffron cultivation and sustainable pest management. The report also noted that 3,454 women benefited from this training program. USAID emphasized, "By training in sustainable pest management, these farmers can meet the standards of European and American markets and expand their access to lucrative global markets." Saffron cultivation began in Herat nearly two decades ago and is currently grown in most provinces. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, over 21 tons of saffron were produced in Afghanistan in 2021. It should be noted that Afghan saffron is renowned for its flavor worldwide, and this year, the Global Flavor and Quality Institute in Belgium awarded Afghanistan the title of best saffron for the ninth time. Additionally, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the caretaker government recently reported that in the first six months of the current solar year, 80 tons of saffron worth $20.5 million were exported to regional and global markets. Akhandzada Abdulsalam Jawad, spokesperson for the ministry, shared a video with reporters stating that most of Afghanistan's saffron exports went to India, Spain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. USAID reiterated, "We are helping Afghans strengthen their businesses and continue their livelihoods. We empower farmers to provide food and job opportunities for their families and communities across the country, and we strive to ensure equal access to education for all students, including boys and girls." The agency also stated that it will continue its efforts to strengthen civil society and human rights, especially the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Roza Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan), states that more than five million children in the country do not have access to education. Ms. Otunbayeva made these remarks during a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture of the caretaker government, emphasizing that over five million children are unable to access education and that literacy is a crucial and vital issue in Afghanistan. She also announced the launch of a national campaign to promote reading in Afghanistan. She stressed that alongside humanitarian assistance, UNAMA is ready to collaborate in the areas of literacy, public libraries, and vocational schools. During this meeting, Atiqullah Azizi, the Deputy Minister of Art and Culture, requested UNAMA's support in building public libraries in provinces and districts, establishing digital systems, and developing mobile libraries. He also urged the international community to assist in the reconstruction, preservation, and training of staff in the field of Afghanistan's historical sites. According to a statement from the Ministry of Information and Culture of the current government, both parties also discussed the preservation and enhancement of historical sites, prevention of smuggling and illegal excavations in ancient and cultural areas of the country. While Roza Otunbayeva reports on the lack of access to education for over five million children, it is noteworthy that the current government has deprived women and girls of attending schools and universities for more than three years. It should be noted that the current government's restrictions have resulted in millions of girls being unable to receive an education. Additionally, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international NGOs, and even at UN offices in Afghanistan.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has announced that currently around 30,000 social health workers are active in Afghanistan under its support. On Sunday, October 21, UNICEF published a statement on its X account stating that these workers provide essential health services for children by visiting homes. Shakiba, one of UNICEF's volunteer health workers in Bamiyan, mentioned in a video that it is a matter of pride to see a malnourished child return to a healthy state. Previously, global organizations, including the World Health Organization, reported that the ban on women working in foreign organizations by the current government has posed multiple challenges to the provision of humanitarian services and aid. Furthermore, these organizations indicate that the prohibition on women's employment has created difficulties in delivering essential services to women and children in the country. Earlier this year, UNICEF announced that 343,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition were hospitalized for treatment in Afghanistan. The organization stated that therapeutic food is vital for the recovery of children, and only UNICEF provides this food in Afghanistan. Additionally, the World Food Programme recently reported that 12.4 million people in Afghanistan are facing "severe" food insecurity. The organization noted that many citizens of Afghanistan do not know how they will obtain their next meal. Moreover, the World Food Programme added that the severe financial crisis for funding aid packages has been exacerbated by the current government's reinstatement and the restrictions imposed on women's employment, putting food assistance at risk.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has announced that it has provided assistance to 15,000 women in Afghanistan who are heads of their households during this calendar year. The FAO highlighted this issue in a message posted on its X account. The assistance includes food supplies, distribution of chickens, and the provision of vaccines and educational services. The FAO emphasized that women play a crucial role in ensuring food security for families. The organization added that access to food for women in Afghanistan has improved compared to the past. It is worth noting that following the takeover of the interim government in Afghanistan, this group has deprived women of their right to work, leading to economic challenges for families. This comes as the World Bank recently stated that Afghanistan, under the interim government, ranks among the 26 poorest countries in the world. It should be noted that after the current government's re-establishment in Afghanistan, the economy of families in the country has severely declined due to the group's restrictions on citizens and a reduction in international aid.

The World Food Program has recently announced that Afghanistan has become a focal point of hunger in the world, with three-quarters of the country's total population unable to have a proper meal. Hsyiao Wei Li, the head of the World Food Program in Afghanistan, warned that around 27 million people cannot access enough food, and families across the country need sustainable emergency food assistance to get through the winter. Additionally, Philippe Kropf, a spokesperson for the organization, stated that the World Food Program requires over $600 million to continue its operations in Afghanistan over the next six months. He emphasized that thanks to the support from the Chinese government, they have been able to distribute food assistance to 35,000 families across Afghanistan in the past month. This comes after last year when the World Food Program removed "ten million people" from its list of aid recipients in Afghanistan due to budget constraints. This summer, eleven million people were deprived of assistance, including two million mothers and their children who did not receive any special food to combat malnutrition. A few days ago, the World Bank also announced that Afghanistan, under the current interim government, is among the 26 poorest countries in the world. It is worth noting that following the current government's takeover of Afghanistan, family economies have severely declined due to the group's restrictions on citizens and a reduction in international aid.