Presenter urges sustained United Nations engagement as Afghanistan faces mounting humanitarian and rights crises

Presenter told the council that Afghanistan faces mounting humanitarian, economic and human-rights pressures even as control has consolidated under the de facto authorities, and urged sustained, unified international engagement to protect civilians and preserve humanitarian access.

The presenter said recent field visits across Afghanistan—from remote districts to northern provinces and eastern border areas—produced a consistent message from returnees, business owners, earthquake- and conflict-affected families, rural and urban communities, and from women and girls: increasing pressures whether humanitarian, economic or on human rights. "I highlight five interlinked areas: political and economic dynamics, the situation of women and girls, broader human rights developments, regional dynamics, and the importance of sustained unified international engagement," the presenter said.

The briefing described mixed economic signals. Macroeconomic indicators show some stabilization, with positive absolute growth and improved revenue mobilization despite sanctions and the eastern border closure, and assessments reported a sustained near-eradication of poppy cultivation in some areas. At the same time, demographic dynamics present a major downside risk: "Nearly 5.9 million people have returned since 2023, amounting to more than a 10% increase in population," the presenter said, and up to 2.8 million Afghans could return this year, many with limited assets and few livelihood prospects. The presenter cited World Bank reporting that, in real terms, Afghans are becoming poorer.

The speaker characterized Afghanistan as one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, noting that about 21.9 million people—roughly 45% of the population—will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. The presenter emphasized that states returning Afghans must uphold international obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, and make returns safe, dignified and accompanied by reintegration support.

More than half of Afghanistan’s population is under 25, the briefing said, creating pressure on education and employment. Environmental stressors—prolonged drought, water scarcity and ecosystem degradation—were described as undermining agricultural livelihoods for more than 70% of Afghans and accelerating rural distress, all of which increase migration and insecurity risks.

The presenter highlighted severe and growing restrictions on women and girls. He said an estimated 3.8 million girls between ages 7 and 18 are not in school, including roughly 2.6 million adolescent girls, and that about 250,000 more girls are being permanently excluded from secondary education pathways each year. Citing UNICEF analysis, the presenter warned that restrictions on education and labor force participation for women are already costing Afghanistan’s economy and will reduce the number of qualified female professionals, projecting a loss of more than 25,000 skilled female workers by 2030.

"We again urge the de facto authorities to lift all restrictions on women and girls," the presenter said, and singled out the continued exclusion of female national UN staff from UN premises as a daily reminder of those harms and a violation of the UN Charter. The briefing also cited recent decrees—including what the presenter identified as "decree number 18"—and reported detentions of some 30 women by authorities for alleged dress-code violations, along with arrests of journalists and closures of some media outlets.

On regional dynamics, the presenter said relations with Pakistan remain strained, with border closures, security incidents and military signaling disrupting trade, increasing costs and impeding humanitarian operations. He reiterated UNAMA’s call for de-escalation, a durable ceasefire, and reopening of border crossings—particularly to enable humanitarian assistance.

The presenter described UNAMA’s role in guiding a political process toward the end state affirmed in Security Council resolution 2721 (2023), stressing that engagement with the de facto authorities is not endorsement but necessary for situational awareness, monitoring and risk mitigation. UNAMA, he said, continues to operate from its headquarters and eight field offices and engages daily with communities to support humanitarian assistance, reporting and response.

The briefing closed with an appeal for sustained multilateral diplomacy and a structured mechanism for engagement: member states should pursue balanced cooperative steps that build confidence and make reintegration possible while insisting that the de facto authorities meet international obligations. No formal vote or decision followed the address; the presenter concluded by reiterating UNAMA’s commitment to the council’s affirmed end state for Afghanistan.