The World Food Program has recently announced that over four million mothers and children in Afghanistan are suffering from malnutrition. In a video shared on its X account, the organization stated that some of these women are receiving treatment with the support of the World Health Organization. The World Food Program had previously warned that there is a possibility of 3.5 million children becoming malnourished by the year 2025. According to a report from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), this figure has increased compared to the past four years. OCHA and the World Food Program attribute this situation to rising poverty and lack of food security. It is worth noting that malnutrition is a serious crisis in Afghanistan, especially among children, and issues such as poverty and lack of access to proper health and nutrition services hinder the provision of essential treatments and prevention of this disease. OCHA, or the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, has predicted that the number of malnourished children in Afghanistan will reach 3.5 million by 2025. According to United Nations reports, this figure has been around 3 million children under five years old over the past five years.

OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has announced that 48% of the people in Afghanistan live below the poverty line, and over 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. In a published report, the organization stated that the restrictive policies of the interim government have hindered women's and girls' access to aid. The report indicates that by 2025, approximately 5.7 million women, 12 million children, 5 million elderly individuals, and 3 million persons with disabilities in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, years of conflict and widespread poverty in the country have been accompanied by high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, prolonged displacement, widespread contamination from unexploded ordnance, and the outbreak of communicable diseases. The report highlights that 14.8 million people are facing food insecurity, and more than 3 million individuals live near areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance. Additionally, UNAMA stated in a note on its Facebook account following the release of this report: "These figures are not just numbers. Our inability to mobilize adequate and timely funding will have devastating consequences." According to the report, the United Nations has requested over $2.4 billion for humanitarian assistance in 2025, but only 12% of this funding has been secured so far. OCHA emphasized that since the current government's takeover of Afghanistan, extensive restrictive policies against the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls have been implemented, limiting their access to aid and services and reducing their participation in public life.

The Ulema Council of Ghazni province has issued a new decree stating that divorce of women should be prevented without "urgent and compelling necessity" in this province. Recently, this council published a 15-article resolution regarding marriage, dowry, and women's rights. The resolution states: "Of all that is permissible, divorce is the least favorable in Islam. However, it is only permissible in cases of necessity. Therefore, divorce should be avoided without urgent and compelling necessity." Article five of this resolution mentions that recently some individuals have compelled husbands to initiate "divorce by mutual consent" due to disobedience and opposition from their wives; however, the financial compensation for such a divorce is considered impermissible for men, and this unlawful practice should be prevented. The Ghazni Ulema Council has stated that alongside the poor economic situation, the dowry for daughters has increased, causing difficulties for the people. Furthermore, it is noted that this resolution has been issued to address the problems faced by the youth and to uphold the dignity of women. Article one of the resolution states that the dowry is a woman's legal right and must be given to her. Article two specifies that excessive dowry leads to unlawful practices, and the Ulema Council and influential figures in each district should determine the appropriate amount of dowry based on the welfare of the people. Additionally, article three emphasizes that the woman should be consulted in marriage, and her consent is necessary. Articles seven and eight state that weddings must be conducted according to Sharia law, and any expenses beyond the dowry are prohibited, such as purchasing gifts or paying money. Article nine asserts that a widow has the right to determine her dowry and can marry whomever she wishes. The resolution further stipulates that marriage should not be replaced; if it is, a dowry must be specified for each party. Moreover, article eleven states that shooting firearms or forcing a woman to wear a veil to compel her into an unlawful marriage is prohibited, and those who engage in such actions will face punishment. The Ghazni Ulema Council has also prohibited the forced marriage of women. In article fourteen of this council's resolution, it is stated that if a woman is married off without her consent, the marriage is not valid. Additionally, article fifteen bans shooting firearms, taking photographs, and filming at weddings; anyone caught engaging in these activities will be punished. It is worth noting that the current government has imposed restrictions on women's rights since its takeover of Afghanistan.

Najia Jalal, a social activist and founder of the grassroots organization Gift for Girls, has won the first prize at the E³UDRES² International Science Festival 2025 in Austria for her educational and support projects aimed at women and girls in crisis situations. Najia Jalal, a master’s student in Human Rights, Politics, and Law at Fulda University of Applied Sciences in Germany, impressed both judges and audiences with her impactful initiatives, securing the top spot at the prestigious international festival. The festival, held under the motto “Local Pulse, Global Waves”, was hosted by St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences in Austria on May 19–20, in collaboration with universities and higher education institutions from across Europe. The event featured 20 student projects from various EU countries competing for top honors. Gift for Girls, founded by Najia Jalal, attracted widespread acclaim for its effective programs, including support for underground schools for girls in Afghanistan and the provision of psychological and psychosocial support services for women and girls in crisis. The initiative is centered around two main goals: 1. Establishing and supporting underground schools for girls in Afghanistan, operating under oppressive educational conditions. 2. Providing psychotherapy and psychosocial support to women and girls in crisis, particularly in areas with limited access to healthcare and mental health services. Competing against 19 other student-led projects from across the European Union, Gift for Girls received the highest number of votes during both online and in-person voting rounds on May 19 and 20, 2025. E³UDRES² is an alliance of nine higher education institutions and dozens of academic and research organizations across Europe, working to promote social innovation, sustainable development, and international collaboration. This achievement marks a significant step in advocating for the rights of women and children in difficult circumstances and highlights the power of science in addressing global challenges.

The “WASA Afghanistan” Institute recently announced that, in cooperation with the UN Women section, it has provided cash assistance to 100 Afghan women entrepreneurs. In a post on its official Facebook page, the organization stated that each of these women received 26,500 Afghanis in cash support. It further mentioned that this financial assistance helps women entrepreneurs equip and expand their small businesses. WASA emphasized that the employment of women and girls in communities leads to financial independence, self-confidence, and more active participation in society. The statement also highlighted the importance of women's empowerment and its role in society: “We believe that when women thrive, a stronger society is built. Empowering women is not just a goal; it is the path to building a brighter, more inclusive, and fairer future for all.” WASA Afghanistan added that it has been working in the field of women’s empowerment and promoting social change in Afghanistan for over 23 years and will continue its efforts in education, capacity building, and support for women and girls. It is worth noting that these projects are being implemented at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan are banned from working in formal jobs and are only allowed to work in limited sectors, such as personal businesses. Over the past four years, as the professional environment has become increasingly restricted, some institutions and organizations have tried to provide women with employment and income opportunities through the few remaining available channels. The United Nations has also warned that Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and the ban on women’s employment is considered one of the main contributors to the country’s economic collapse.

Asia Platform has recently warned that over one million Afghan migrants who have returned from Pakistan in recent months are at risk of secondary displacement and a humanitarian crisis if immediate support is not provided. The organization stated in a press release that returnees from neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, are primarily entering a country that is already grappling with widespread poverty, economic collapse, and severe resource shortages. The statement read: "Afghanistan has previously experienced the largest internal displacement crisis in Asia. Now, with the wave of forced returns, it is undergoing one of the largest demographic changes in recent years." Asia Platform has warned that the lack of land, shelter, legal documentation, job opportunities, and educational and healthcare services for returnees will lead to a humanitarian disaster and further unrest. The organization has also called on all countries, relevant institutions, and organizations to adhere to the principles of voluntary, safe, and dignified return, and to support the rights of refugees and returnees with a coordinated regional response. Pakistan, which has long hosted one of the largest populations of refugees from Afghanistan, has decided to expel undocumented migrants amid deteriorating bilateral relations with the current government and increasing security concerns. However, internal political and economic challenges, with long-term impacts on social stability, have created further difficulties for returning migrants and Afghan society. It should be noted that Pakistan has been implementing the second phase of forced expulsions of Afghan migrants for nearly two months, during which thousands of Afghan citizens have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan. In this context, returning migrants also speak of being subjected to mistreatment, abuse, and violations of human values by the Pakistani police.

The Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization (AJSO) has condemned the mass dismissal of over 300 employees from the "National Radio and Television," including 90 female employees and journalists. In a statement published on its X account, the organization stated that this action by the interim government is another step in the direction of suppressing media freedom and systematically eliminating women from public spaces, especially in the media. The statement noted that this action by the current government not only shows a blatant disrespect for the experience and efforts of the employees but also causes irreparable damage to the media structure and the future of independent information dissemination in Afghanistan. The journalists' support organization stated: "We consider this action as part of a systematic policy to eliminate women from the workforce and society; a policy that has previously been implemented in the ministries of education, higher education, agriculture, and other government institutions." The statement further mentioned: "The current government's leadership decision to reduce government employees by 20 percent, without considering its human, social, and economic consequences, will deepen the crisis in the country." It is worth noting that in recent days, the current government has dismissed around 300 employees and journalists, including female journalists and employees from the central office and provincial offices of "National Radio and Television." It should be noted that the process of downsizing government positions has started over the past month, resulting in hundreds of employees being dismissed from government institutions. According to this decision, approximately 90,000 positions have been eliminated solely from the Ministry of Education. The Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization has called on the international community, human rights organizations, and advocates for media freedom to use political and diplomatic pressure tools to compel the current government to stop the arbitrary dismissals of media employees, especially women.

Myung Park, the head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Afghanistan, recently stated that half of the population of this country relies on humanitarian assistance to survive. The IOM chief made these remarks at the "Fourth Humanitarian Forum of the European Union" in Brussels, emphasizing the need for protection and the provision of vital services at Afghanistan's borders and crossings. He further stressed that the ongoing forced returns of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan are exacerbating the problems for families and communities, with half of the country's population dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. It is noteworthy that the Fourth Humanitarian Forum, or "European Humanitarian Forum" (EHF), focused on Afghanistan, began on Monday and continues today. According to available information, the main focus of this meeting is "the root causes of the crisis in Afghanistan and strengthening regional cooperation for innovative and sustainable solutions." This meeting is co-hosted by the European Commission and Poland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, and is taking place in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. It is important to mention that with the cessation of U.S. humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, relief organizations are facing financial challenges. Additionally, according to United Nations statistics, 22.9 million people in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian assistance this year, with 16.8 million prioritized for aid. OCHA, or the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has requested a budget of $2.42 billion to assist these individuals. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid to Afghanistan has sharply decreased, and many humanitarian organizations have halted their operations in the country. The World Food Programme also reports that last year it provided emergency food and cash assistance to nearly 12 million people in Afghanistan, prioritizing aid for women and girls facing "severe hunger."

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, says that one third of children in Afghanistan are deprived of education, and 60% of them are girls. In a message posted today (Wednesday, May 21) on its X (formerly Twitter) account, UNICEF stated that with the support of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in Afghanistan, it supports more than 10,000 community-based education classes, including over 1,500 accelerated learning centers. According to the statement, these classes have provided educational opportunities for over 300,000 children across Afghanistan, more than two-thirds of whom are girls. The statement also mentions that the German Committee for UNICEF supports the education of adolescent girls in Afghanistan through 148 accelerated learning centers and has facilitated education for an additional 2,200 adolescent girls in the northern and central regions of the country. The Children's Fund considers education a right for every child and emphasizes that education equips children with essential skills for growth, development, and making informed life decisions. UNICEF quoted one student saying, “If this class hadn't been established in my village, I would have been forced to marry.” She adds, “With each passing day, I get one step closer to my dream.” This international organization also stated that in 2024, it supported 18,000 community-based education classes in Afghanistan, providing education for 564,000 children. According to the statement, 5,500 female teachers were trained last year. UNICEF added that in addition to providing education and distributing learning materials, it also reconstructs damaged schools across the country. This emphasis on girls' and boys' education by UNICEF comes while the de facto government has banned girls’ education beyond grade six since returning to power. It has been over 1,337 days since schools have been closed to them. Previously, the current government had also shut down several UNICEF-supported accelerated learning classes for girls in various provinces.