The New York Times has recently reported that Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is drying up due to water scarcity, and solutions that could potentially address the crisis may arrive too late. According to the American newspaper’s report, the city’s six million residents could be left without water by 2030. Although the interim government is trying to find solutions, its financial reserves to contain the crisis are as dry as Kabul’s water reservoirs. The New York Times emphasized: “Kabul is drying up. It has withered due to reduced rainfall and melting snow, and is being depleted by illegal wells. It is so dry that its six million residents may be without water by 2030, and they are now fighting over it.” The report stated that Kabul’s water reserves are being depleted almost twice as fast as they are replenished. The non-profit Mercy Corps had previously warned in a report that Kabul is at risk of becoming the first modern capital in the world to run out of groundwater. It is worth noting that Kabul, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and crossed by three rivers, has never before been considered a dry city. According to the report, water extraction currently exceeds the natural recharge of groundwater by 44 million cubic meters annually. UNAMA also warned some time ago that if the current trend continues, all of Kabul’s groundwater resources will be depleted by early 2030, putting millions of its residents at risk.

The non-governmental organization Emergency, marking the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, has stated that four years after the fall of the republic and the withdrawal of foreign forces, the country’s health crisis is worsening, leaving millions deprived of the most basic medical services. Emergency reported that the findings of this assessment were collected through interviews with more than 1,600 patients, caregivers, and healthcare staff in 11 provinces, revealing that over 70% of Afghan citizens have no access to free or affordable healthcare. According to the report, three out of five respondents said they cannot afford treatment costs and often have to borrow money or sell their belongings to receive medical care. The report further notes that one in four patients have postponed or canceled surgery due to high expenses. Emergency also warned that the economic collapse, widespread restrictions on women’s work and travel, and shortages of resources are placing unprecedented strain on the country’s healthcare system. Quoting Dejan Panic, the organization’s country director in Afghanistan, the report says: “Some 22.9 million people — more than half of Afghanistan’s population — are in need of humanitarian assistance. Destroyed infrastructure, sweeping human rights restrictions, and poor access to healthcare have turned Afghanistan into a test of post-war survival.” Emergency, which has been operating in Afghanistan since 1999, currently runs three surgical centers in Kabul, Lashkargah, and Anabah, a maternity center in Panjshir, and more than 40 first aid posts and primary healthcare facilities across the country. The report states that half of the patients at the Kabul surgical center are still considered “war-wounded,” including victims of shootings, explosions, landmines, and stabbings. It adds that 80% of patients at this center suffer from non-conflict-related injuries, mainly road traffic accidents — a figure that has been rising since 2021. In Anabah, Panjshir, the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s travel and work have caused many female patients to arrive late to hospitals, resulting in some cases in death. Maternal and neonatal malnutrition is also cited as one of the main causes of mortality and long-term illness in the area. The report highlights that in the current year, 75% of landmine victims in Afghanistan have been children, most injured while playing in contaminated areas. Additionally, 20% of children hospitalized at Emergency’s Anabah facilities suffer from severe acute malnutrition, increasing the risk of death, recurrent infections, and growth problems.

The UN Women office in Afghanistan has warned that, four years after the return of the de facto authorities to power, more than 78% of Afghan women and girls are neither studying, nor employed, nor have access to education—figures that signal the risk of the complete removal of women from public life. In a newly released report, the organization stated that the current authorities, through nearly 100 restrictive decrees, have deprived women of education, employment, and freedom of movement. The report notes that this situation has dangerous consequences in the fields of health, the economy, and human rights. Barriers to women’s access to healthcare could increase maternal mortality by 50% by 2026. It further states: “Women now, due to mounting restrictions and lack of access to health services, have shorter lifespans and poorer health.” The report also highlights a rise in child marriage and domestic and societal violence against women. Afghan women are not only being excluded from society; 62% of them feel they have no decision-making power even within their own households. Susan Ferguson, head of the UN Women office in Afghanistan, said: “Women’s restrictions should be understood as an issue beyond Afghanistan. These restrictions are not only about the rights and future of Afghan women and girls. This is about what we, as the global community, stand for.” It is worth noting that UNAMA, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, has also released a report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan over the past three months. The report documents and examines the human rights situation, as well as the situation of women, media, returnees, and other issues. UNAMA’s documentation shows that from April to June of the current year, the de facto authorities’ restrictions on women and girls have expanded in all sectors. Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the de facto authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions on the fundamental rights and freedoms of women, barring them from education and work. As a result, millions of schoolgirls have been deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in national and international NGOs, as well as even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

Nasim Radio has announced the complete cessation of its activities after 13 years, following the arrest of its editor-in-chief and journalists by the intelligence department of the interim government in Daikundi province. The station, which broadcast in the provinces of Daikundi and Bamyan, posted a statement on its X account announcing the end of its operations. The statement read: “For thirteen years, we were the voice of hope, kindness, awareness, and life. From the heart of the mountains, the streets, and the villages of Daikundi and Bamyan, through moments of pain and joy, we were with you. We listened, we spoke, we wept, and we laughed. But today, with hearts full of sorrow, we must say: we can no longer continue.” Nasim Radio told its listeners: “The suspension of our broadcasts does not mean the end of our love for this path; rather, it reflects a time that can sometimes be too ruthless to allow voices to endure.” The station pledged in its statement to resume operations if conditions improve. This comes after, on Wednesday of last week, the intelligence department of the current government once again arrested Sultan Ali Jawadi, the editor-in-chief, and journalists Saifullah Rezaei and Mojtaba Qasemi, detaining them for several hours before releasing them. Local officials of the current government in Daikundi had previously arrested the editor-in-chief and journalists of the station several times and had closed its office. Nasim Radio was a local media outlet in Daikundi and Bamyan, covering various political, cultural, and social issues in these two provinces and attracting a large audience.

Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, says that returning migrants are eager to build their future in their own country, but one of their common concerns is the continuation of their daughters’ education beyond grade six. Mr. Chaiban, who has recently returned from a visit to Afghanistan, said in a statement that in 2025 more than two million migrants, including half a million children, have been deported from Iran and Pakistan to Afghanistan. During his trip, he also visited the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province. He also traveled to Kunduz province, where students and teachers shared with him their concerns about the ban on girls’ education. “In Afghanistan, education remains a critical issue—particularly for adolescent girls who are not allowed to attend school beyond grade six,” he said. The UNICEF Deputy Executive Director stressed that this policy affects not only girls but all women in Afghanistan, depriving them of higher education, including university, and the right to work. “Education for all children is at the heart of UNICEF’s mission,” Chaiban added, “and we strongly support the lifting of this ban so that girls of all ages can remain in school, receive a quality education, be able to work, and play a role in their community, for themselves, their families, and the future development of Afghanistan.” He emphasized: “We stand ready to find solutions for continuing girls’ education and will keep exploring options with the authorities (the interim government).” His remarks come as the de facto authorities have, since regaining control of Afghanistan, imposed sweeping restrictions on the basic rights and freedoms of women, barring them from education and employment. These actions have left millions of school-aged girls unable to continue their studies. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public bathhouses, from being examined by male doctors, from traveling without a male guardian, and from working in national and international NGOs and even UN offices in Afghanistan.

Seyed Javad Hosseini, head of Iran’s Welfare Organization, announced that among the 4,400 child laborers identified in the organization’s programs, more than 86% are foreign nationals, particularly migrants from Afghanistan. Hosseini made these remarks in an interview with Iranian state television, stating that child laborers are active both on the streets and in workshops, and that both forms of child labor are considered illegal. In Iran’s official discourse, the term “foreign nationals” typically refers to Afghan migrants. It is worth noting that Iran is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits child labor. However, children’s rights activists say that domestic laws and economic conditions have allowed this phenomenon to remain widespread. Migrant children are mostly engaged in garbage collection. Some of them are orphans, while others come from low-income families. Limited access to education for migrant children is also seen as a factor contributing to their involvement in child labor. Although there are no exact figures available on the number of Afghan child laborers in Iran, a former member of Tehran’s City Council once stated that there are around 70,000 child laborers in the capital alone, 80% of whom are Afghan. The sharp increase in the return of Afghan migrants from Iran—occurring alongside intensified forced deportations from Pakistan—has created serious challenges for Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the current Afghan administration is cooperating with Iran on the deportation and repatriation of Afghan migrants.

The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the caretaker government has responded to the UN’s report on harassment of women and girls returning to Afghanistan, calling it “unrealistic, political, and irresponsible.” Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the ministry, in an audio message urged the UN to judge women “based on Islamic values and the cultural sensitivities of Afghanistan,” saying that women’s rights in Afghanistan are “protected under Islamic Sharia law.” Mr. Khyber further stressed that Afghan women enjoy their Islamic and Sharia-based rights, and that their dignity and security are safeguarded. He added that the caretaker government has taken significant steps to prevent forced marriages, ensure payment of dowries and inheritance, and curb harmful social customs and traditions. In part of his message, he called on the UN—if it is truly an advocate for women’s rights—to pay attention to the mass killing of women and children in Palestine. This comes as the UN Women section on Thursday, August 16, warned that women and girls returning to Afghanistan face dangers such as poverty, early marriage, harassment, and abuse, and called on the international community to take urgent action to protect their rights. The UN report, highlighting the economic crisis, climate challenges, and unprecedented restrictions faced by women and girls, urged the international community to act for their protection. It noted that Afghan women and girls are facing unprecedented limitations on their rights and freedoms due to the dire economic situation and climate challenges.

The United Nations Women's Section has recently stated that women and girls forced to return to Afghanistan are facing increasing dangers of poverty, early marriage, violence, exploitation, and restrictions on their rights and freedoms. In a joint statement, this agency and the international relief organization "CARE" emphasized that returning women and girls urgently need humanitarian aid and sustainable support to rebuild their lives in communities already under severe economic and environmental pressures. The statement noted that since September 2023, over 2.43 million undocumented individuals have returned from Iran and Pakistan. It also mentioned that women and girls make up one-third of the returnees from Iran and about half of the total returnees from Pakistan. Furthermore, it highlighted that many of these women are returning to a country where they have never lived and are facing conditions of homelessness, lack of income, and no access to education or healthcare. The statement continued: "Returning women and girls, like all women and girls in Afghanistan, face increasing risks of poverty, early marriage, violence, exploitation, and unprecedented restrictions on their rights, movement, and freedoms." The statement quoted Susan Ferguson, the UN Women Special Representative in Afghanistan, saying: "Vulnerable women and girls arriving in communities that have already reached breaking point with nothing are at even greater risk." She emphasized that more funding is needed for targeted support for returning women. It is noteworthy that the severe reduction in humanitarian aid budgets has significantly weakened the capacity of humanitarian organizations to respond to needs. Graham Davison, the director of the international relief agency "CARE" in Afghanistan, stressed: "We urgently need support to provide essential services, safe spaces, and protection for returning women and girls." He added that women and girls are returning to Afghanistan with distress, confusion, and despair. The UN Women's Section and CARE stated: "We call on the international community to act now – to protect the rights of Afghan women and girls and invest in the women aid workers who tirelessly strive to support them on the front lines."

UN Women has recently warned that Afghan women and girls returning from Iran and Pakistan are at risk of early marriage, violence, and abuse. In a report released today (Thursday, August 7), the organization stated that returnee women and girls are highly dependent on humanitarian aid, and after returning to the country, their access to community life, humanitarian assistance, and personal freedoms becomes severely restricted. The agency emphasized that one-third of those returning from Iran are women, and nearly half of those deported from Pakistan are also women and girls. According to reports published by national and international organizations, 2.43 million Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran and Pakistan since last year. The UN Women report further stated: “The arrival of vulnerable women and girls, empty-handed, into communities already on the brink of collapse exposes them to even greater dangers.” The organization added that safe shelter, livelihoods, and education for girls are the most urgent needs expressed by women and girls. The UN also warned that the ability of female-headed households to access humanitarian assistance and support their families has significantly decreased. It has called on the international community and aid organizations to take immediate action to support Afghan women and girls. This comes as the UN has previously documented cases in which returnees from neighboring countries have faced detention, torture, and imprisonment. Currently, the deportation and return of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan continues at a rapid pace. Officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran report that one million Afghan migrants have already been deported. Recently, Iran has ordered all undocumented migrants to leave the country. Iranian officials have provided varying statistics regarding the number of undocumented migrants. According to some estimates, the number of undocumented Afghan migrants in Iran may reach four million. In addition, several million Afghan migrants also reside in Pakistan. Recently, the residency cards of over one million individuals have expired, and the Pakistani government has yet to decide whether to extend or terminate them.