In August 2024, humanitarian operations in Afghanistan continued to face significant challenges, with 132 incidents reported across various regions. Although this represents a 4 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year, access impediments increased by 22 per cent from the previous month, resulting in the suspension of 70 projects, of which 39 were reportedly resolved. The southern, central, and southeastern regions were most impacted, reporting 37, 22, and 20 incidents, respectively.
Interference by de facto authorities in humanitarian activities remained a significant challenge in August, representing 70 per cent of the total incidents—a 18 per cent increase from the previous month. These interferences included demands to participate in beneficiary selection, particularly in the northern region, unannounced visits to humanitarian offices, suspension of specific project, attempts to control NGO recruitment processes and request for sensitive data from humanitarian organizations.
Violence against humanitarian workers remained a concern, with 13 incidents recorded, including the detention of 19 aid workers (14 men and five women), an increase from 10 detentions the previous month. Restrictions on the movement of humanitarian personnel and goods also increased, with 17 incidents compared to six in the previous month. These incidents, often at checkpoints, involved demands for sensitive information on staff, restrictions on international staff travel (in central highland region), dress code requirements for male and female staff, and Mahram requirements for women.
In August, 24 percent of the incidents had gender-related aspect. These included restrictions on female participation in humanitarian work, dress code and Mahram requirements, and halted distributions to women-led households. Some female-led organizations were reportedly asked to pay additional penalties for changing the names of female staff. Male staff also faced dress code regulations, including beard requirements, leading to detentions.
Additionally, 11 directives were issued nationwide and specifically for some humanitarian partners in August that directly impacted humanitarian operations, including the enactment of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) Law, which further has impacted operations. Other directives involved demands to participate in NGO recruitment processes and follow-up letters requesting sensitive data from humanitarian partners.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.