Five years after the Taliban returned to power following the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, the country is facing one of the world's most severe human rights and humanitarian crises, according to a report cited by US media.
The report says overall humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan has declined by nearly 70 percent since 2022, further worsening conditions for millions of Afghans already facing severe economic and social challenges.
Restrictions on women and girls have remained a major concern. The Taliban have continued imposing restrictions on women's rights, while legal protections have been reduced and women have been barred from working in many sectors.
Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world where girls are prohibited from continuing their education beyond the sixth grade. According to UNESCO, around 2.4 million Afghan girls are currently out of school.
The situation is also taking a serious toll on women's mental health. UN Women reports that seven out of every 10 women in Afghanistan describe their mental health as either poor or very poor.
Meanwhile, a report released this week by Save the Children says nearly one in every 10 Afghan children is suffering from severe malnutrition, highlighting the scale of the country's continuing humanitarian emergency.
