OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has recently announced that the risk of gender-based violence in Afghanistan remains high. The agency published a report today (Saturday, April 18) covering the period from April 7 to April 17 of this year, which highlights the damages caused by recent rains and floods. It states that protection partners have provided psychosocial services and support related to gender-based violence to over 2,200 individuals. The report notes: "While broader protection risks remain high, including the increased risk of gender-based violence, child labor, and psychological pressures that are estimated to have affected around 14,000 people." The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs emphasized that humanitarian partners have expanded immediate relief efforts following the recent rains and floods that have impacted most regions of the country. The report states: "Several hundred people have died or been injured, thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed, critical infrastructure including hundreds of kilometers of important roads and several bridges has been destroyed, and vast areas of agricultural land have also been affected." OCHA further added that over 73,000 individuals have been affected and more than 31,000 people have been identified as needing urgent assistance. The office mentions that various UN agencies have provided assistance to affected families. Additionally, the World Food Programme has stated that the recent floods in Afghanistan have caused widespread damage to people's homes and agricultural lands. This comes at a time when most provinces in the country have witnessed extensive rainfall in recent weeks.

Faraidon Farzad recently announced that he was awarded the international "Archimedes" prize for designing an artificial intelligence system that detects the level of infection in wounds of diabetic patients. Mr. Farzad stated that this system determines the infection level through a mobile phone by analyzing images taken of the wounds of diabetic patients. He emphasized that patients can learn about the condition of their wounds using their mobile phones before visiting a doctor. He said, "My design is an intelligent infection prediction system based on machine learning that can save lives and contribute to improving community health." Faraidon Farzad is a doctoral student in the field of artificial intelligence. Due to visa issues, he was unable to attend the award ceremony in Moscow and followed the event online. The Archimedes International Exhibition of Inventions and Innovations in Moscow is one of the largest and most prestigious scientific events in the world, held since 1998 with the support of the Russian government and international organizations to showcase inventions, industrial designs, and new technologies. This festival serves as a platform for researchers and inventors from around the world to compete in various technical and engineering fields.

The United Nations Women’s Organization has announced that out of every five migrant women returning to Afghanistan, fewer than one can earn an income, which constitutes only 17% of the total number of returning migrant women. In a published report, the organization stated that this situation could exacerbate food insecurity among returning families, especially those headed by women. The report indicates that despite many women having worked in other countries and acquiring skills, upon returning to Afghanistan, they face a near-total collapse of job opportunities. Nearly 40% of these women reported having skills but are unable to utilize them, including professional, technical, and digital skills. Findings from the UN Women’s Organization reveal that more than three-quarters of women who worked in Iran and nearly two-thirds of women who worked in Pakistan are unemployed after returning to Afghanistan. The organization stated that this survey was based on data collected from 700 returning women and local stakeholders, including phone surveys, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and workshops in the provinces of Herat, Nangarhar, and Kabul. Additionally, the report titled "After Return: Rebuilding Afghan Women's Livelihoods" from the UN Women’s Organization highlights that the main barriers include employment and mobility restrictions for women in Afghanistan, limited access to capital and tools, and weak market opportunities. More than three-quarters of returning women have no tools or capital to earn an income. This comes at a time when over 5.5 million migrants have returned from Iran and Pakistan to Afghanistan since 2023, placing unprecedented pressure on local economies that were already fragile.

The funeral ceremony for the victims of the attack on Shia civilians in the Injil district of Herat was held with the participation of thousands of residents from both Sunni and Shia communities. The ceremony began on Tuesday, April 14, from the Sadqiyeh Grand Mosque in the center of Herat, and then eight of the victims were buried at the "Sultan Aqa" shrine. According to available information, three other victims of this attack, who were residents of the "Deh-Miri" village in the Injil district of Herat province, were buried in that village. This comes after armed assailants targeted civilians near a shrine dedicated to "Sayed Mohammad Aqa Sabzpush" in the "Deh-Miri" village of the Injil district on Friday. According to statistics from UNAMA, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, 11 people were killed and 11 others were injured in this attack. The Herat Department of Information and Culture has also reported that 11 people were killed in this attack, but announced the number of injured as eight. It is noteworthy that no individual or group has claimed responsibility for this attack so far. It should be mentioned that Shia and Hazara communities in Herat province have repeatedly been targeted by armed attacks in recent years. In some cases, ISIS has claimed responsibility for these attacks.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has recently stated that there is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented through vaccination. In a message posted on its X account, the organization emphasized that as long as the polio virus is circulating in Afghanistan, every child under five years old must receive two drops of the vaccine. The United Nations Children's Fund further stressed the importance of ensuring that no child is left out of the vaccination process to prevent the spread of this disease. UNICEF also called on "parents, caregivers, and community leaders" to cooperate in this regard and ensure that all children are vaccinated. The organization added that the collaboration of families and communities alongside health teams can help end and eradicate polio in Afghanistan. This is the first campaign to administer the polio vaccine in Afghanistan for the year 1405 in the Afghan calendar, targeting 12.6 million children under five years old. Currently, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world where polio has not been eradicated. It is worth mentioning that nine positive cases of polio were recorded in Afghanistan in 2025, but so far this year, no new cases have been reported. The World Health Organization has also warned that until polio is completely eradicated globally, Afghanistan remains at risk of international virus transmission, making cooperation with global programs and coordination with Pakistan essential for vaccinating populations in border areas. This agency has raised concerns about the increased risk of vaccine-derived viruses (cVDPV) in certain regions of the world and emphasized that widespread vaccination and continuous monitoring are the only ways to prevent further outbreaks of the disease.

The United Nations Development Fund for Afghanistan has recently announced that the economic empowerment of women is one of the most effective ways to enhance resilience in Afghanistan. In a message posted on its X account day (Sunday, April 13), the organization stated that small-scale interventions can play a significant role in improving family livelihoods and developing communities. The UN Development Fund shared the story of a woman named Bibi Nuriyeh, who, after losing her husband, turned to raising birds at home with the support of this fund and was able to create a source of income for her family. It further noted that bird farming not only helps meet the nutritional needs of families but also provides a sustainable income. The UN Development Fund emphasized that it supports such initiatives in collaboration with its partners and considers these efforts part of the drive to strengthen family self-reliance in Afghanistan. This comes at a time when Afghan women are facing extensive restrictions in the workplace following the return of the caretaker government. Women's work has been banned in many formal sectors, and some have been forced to engage in informal sectors and domestic work to meet their living expenses. Alongside these restrictions, some local and international organizations have attempted to facilitate continued work and income opportunities for women through small-scale programs and supportive projects.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, recently announced that millions of children around the world are at risk of forced labor, with some being trafficked and coerced into dangerous work. This organization published a report stating that economic problems are causing children globally to be subjected to labor. UNICEF emphasized that in the latest statistics collected in 2024, approximately 138 million children worldwide were engaged in work, with more than one-third involved in hazardous jobs that directly threaten their health and development. Part of the report states: "Forced labor can lead to severe physical and psychological harm and even death for children. Children may be exploited for slavery and sexual or economic abuse. In almost all cases, children are deprived of education and health services, and their fundamental rights are restricted." UNICEF further added that trafficked children are often exposed to violence, abuse, and human rights violations. For girls, the risk of sexual exploitation is particularly high. The United Nations Children's Fund indicates that globally, boys in all age groups are more involved in child labor than girls. Among children aged 5 to 17 years, 9% of boys and 7% of girls are engaged in work. UNICEF stated that labor deprives children of their fundamental rights. Many are denied education and health services at a time when they need them the most. Additionally, this organization and the International Labour Organization have urged governments to end child labor worldwide by providing cash assistance to needy households, supporting child protection systems, ensuring universal access to education, and creating job opportunities for adults.