WEB DESK: Afghanistan is facing a collapsing economic recovery, compounded by multiple crises that have left nine out of ten households struggling to survive. According to a report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released on Wednesday, families are resorting to extreme measures such as skipping meals, selling belongings, or accumulating debt to get by.
Since 2023, over 4.5 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan, increasing the population by 10%. This sudden influx, combined with natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and droughts, has pushed an already fragile public service system to the brink. The UNDP describes this as Afghanistan’s most severe crisis since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
The report reveals a grim situation of humanitarian and economic collapse in a country largely cut off from the international aid it once relied on. With donor funding covering only a small portion of the UN’s $3.1 billion appeal, millions of Afghans now face escalating levels of poverty and displacement.
Mass deportations from neighboring countries have strained basic infrastructure, housing, and employment opportunities. Meanwhile, policies restricting women under the Taliban’s rule have diminished their role in the workforce, weakening household resilience and hindering community recovery.
The UNDP and other UN agencies are urging immediate action to support livelihoods and local services, especially in areas experiencing high numbers of returnees. They are also calling on donors to renew their aid commitments and to lift restrictions affecting female aid workers.
The Taliban authorities have appealed for international assistance following recent disasters and criticized Pakistan’s large-scale deportations. However, key governmental ministries have so far remained silent on the UNDP’s findings.
