On August 8, 2025, the United Nations raised concerns about the increasing challenges for Afghan women and girls returning to the country. These returnees, often arriving with few resources, face heightened risks of poverty, early marriage, and violence amid Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. The UN reports that only 10% of female-headed households have access to permanent shelter, exacerbating their exposure to unstable living conditions.
Funding Challenges for Afghan
The situation is compounded by severe funding shortages, which have strained humanitarian organizations’ ability to provide adequate support. Women humanitarian workers at border points are overwhelmed, struggling to meet even basic needs of returnees. Afghanistan’s decades-long conflict, combined with economic instability and natural disasters, has intensified these challenges, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable under restrictive Taliban policies.
UN Actions to Protect Returnees
The UN has called for urgent international action to protect the rights of Afghan women and girls and to bolster support for female humanitarian workers. The Islamic Emirate has stated that addressing returnee issues is a priority, but no specific measures were detailed in response to the UN’s concerns. Discussions on X reflect global alarm, with many emphasizing the need for sustained aid and advocacy to address gender-specific risks in Afghanistan.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 9th, 2025
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