The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently stated that it has trained 531 health workers across 14 specialized sectors, and the healthcare facilities supported by this organization have provided extensive services to the people. In a statement, the organization mentioned that significant investments have been made throughout Afghanistan to enhance health capacities, and training health workers is part of efforts to improve healthcare services in the country. The statement noted that the health centers supported by the World Health Organization have provided 64,146 outpatient consultations and administered vaccines to over 3,000 children under the age of five. The United Nations added that more than 47,000 individuals in remote areas of Afghanistan have benefited from the health training and awareness materials provided by this organization. However, access to healthcare services in Afghanistan continues to face numerous challenges, and ongoing support is essential for strengthening the health system and providing services to the people, especially in remote areas. It is worth mentioning that the maternal mortality rate in this country is 521 cases per 100,000 live births. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's healthcare system has faced extensive challenges for decades, including a shortage of healthcare facilities, specialized doctors, and medications. In many remote provinces of the country, there are still no healthcare centers available.

The United Nations Women’s Section has recently announced that financial aid cuts, restrictions on employment, and mobility for women in Afghanistan have put women-centered organizations in serious crisis, reducing access for women and girls to vital services. This organization released a report stating that women's organizations in Afghanistan, which are among the few pathways for women and girls to access supportive, health, and educational services, are at risk of closure. The report indicated that a survey conducted among 74 women's organizations in Afghanistan shows that nearly three-quarters of these entities are facing budget cuts in 2025, two-thirds of these organizations have six months or less of operational funding available, and half of them have not received any new funding since 2025. The UN Women’s Section further emphasized that more than half of the surveyed organizations anticipate ceasing their activities or fully shutting down within the next year. Additionally, 66% of these organizations reported that many women and girls who previously utilized their services no longer have access to them. This organization stated that budget cuts have led to a reduction in educational services, income-generating programs for women, and support programs for women affected by violence. The report noted that extensive restrictions on education, employment, and mobility for women in Afghanistan have increased the need for supportive services, particularly psychological and social support. The UN Women’s Section specified that women's organizations in Afghanistan currently represent the last remaining pathways for providing services to women and girls; however, the reduction in aid has complicated these entities' ability to continue their operations. According to the report, women's organizations in Afghanistan provide services such as primary health care, psychological and social support, vocational training, and income-generating programs for women; however, budget shortages have diminished the capacity of these services. Since the return of the caretaker government to power in Afghanistan, extensive restrictions on women's rights, including education, employment, and mobility, have been imposed. In 2023, the current government also banned female UN staff from working in the offices of this organization; a move that the UN deemed contradictory to its operational principles and warned that these restrictions would make it more challenging to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

The United Nations Women’s Section has recently announced that healthcare centers in Afghanistan are changing the lives of women by providing them with necessary support. This organization shared a report highlighting the importance of women's access to healthcare services through a partnership with a healthcare center in central Afghanistan. The report features a woman named Zahra, who, after visiting the healthcare center, experienced episodes where her hands and feet would occasionally lock up due to stress and she would fall to the ground; however, she has since improved after receiving treatment at this center. Zahra, a mother of five, stated, "After consulting with the doctor, I have been feeling better for three months now." The UN Women’s Section expressed concern over the restricted access of women to healthcare services, noting that the opportunity provided to Zahra may not exist for another woman in need of assistance. Masoumeh, the director of the healthcare center, also expressed worry about budget cuts, stating that if funding continues to decrease, the healthcare center will have to limit its staff and activities, ultimately harming the community and families. Restricted access to healthcare services for women, especially in remote areas of Afghanistan, remains a serious challenge to their health. On the other hand, according to concerns raised by international organizations, particularly the UN and the World Health Organization, budget cuts and the suspension of operations at hundreds of healthcare centers across Afghanistan over the past two years have significantly increased the vulnerability of citizens, including women.

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.