The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stated that Afghanistan is going through one of the most difficult periods in its contemporary history, with women, girls, and children bearing the heaviest burden of the humanitarian crisis.
In a report, the organization said that millions of people have returned to Afghanistan without assets and with the hope of finding safety and a fresh start. However, returnees often face communities that themselves are struggling with poverty, unemployment, and a lack of basic services.
UNDP further warned that most women, girls, and children enter Afghanistan without support, income, or access to safe shelter.
According to part of the report, restrictions on movement, education, and employment severely limit the options available to returning women.
The report also states that families are forced to make difficult decisions, and some girls are compelled to drop out of school or are pushed into early marriage.
The organization cautioned that without urgent assistance, these families will face even deeper crises. Some families may be forced to migrate again, local tensions may increase, services may collapse, and the cycle of displacement may continue.
UNDP added that, in collaboration with communities, it is working to support the rebuilding of family livelihoods through practical and people-centered assistance and to create the conditions for long-term recovery.
The organization emphasized that this support includes three types of measures aimed at helping families rebuild their lives and cope with crises.
UNDP also previously announced that the large-scale return of Afghans in recent months has placed immense pressure on host communities, leaving most families in extremely difficult conditions.
