UN Reports Rise in Aid Disruptions and Security Incidents in Afghanistan During March

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded 86 security incidents and humanitarian aid disruptions across Afghanistan during March, resulting in the death of one aid worker and the detention of three others. The disruptions have intensified operational challenges in a country already grappling with severe humanitarian needs.

According to UN data, the majority of the incidents were concentrated in the eastern and southeastern regions, coinciding with periods of heightened cross-border tensions. Road closures in Nuristan province’s Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal districts significantly impeded the delivery of essential supplies to vulnerable communities.

Restrictions on female humanitarian personnel also contributed to the operational setbacks. Officials documented 14 separate instances in March where women were prevented from carrying out their duties. In one reported case in Nangarhar province, female staff were excluded from a midwifery training program.

The access constraints arrive as Afghanistan faces mounting food insecurity. The Global Food Crises 2026 report ranks the country fifth worldwide for acute hunger. Compounding the crisis, recent flooding and heavy rainfall have damaged critical infrastructure and further complicated relief distribution efforts.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued security incidents, combined with the impact of natural disasters and administrative restrictions, threaten to deepen the suffering of millions of Afghans who rely on international assistance for basic survival.