Georgette Gagnon at the Security Council. (Archive) INTERVIEW | How the UN is supporting Afghanistan in the face of regional escalation and severe resource shortages Peace and security
In the east – clashes with Pakistan, in the west – a potential increase in the number of returnees from Iran, which has become the epicenter of a serious regional escalation. One could say that Afghanistan is caught between two fires, but the country has much more problems. Difficult economic and social situation, consequences of a powerful earthquake in 2025, chronic lack of funding for humanitarian operations. The list goes on.
Lyudmila Blagonravova asked Georgette Gagnon, acting head of the UN mission in this country, about how the UN is trying to help Afghanistan solve its most pressing problems. She will give a briefing to the Security Council on Monday.
LB: Given the situation around Iran, and the fact that more Afghans may return from Iran to Afghanistan in the coming months, how is the mission preparing to support returnees and their host communities?
ZhG: Together with UN agencies, we are already preparing various types of assistance in case Afghans begin to return from Iran to Afghanistan – to their homes and communities. UN agencies, in particular the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and others, are already preparing both on the border with Iran and in host communities in different regions of the country.
This will be an extremely difficult task, because over the past year and a half, more than four million people have already returned to Afghanistan – from both Iran and Pakistan.
Therefore, both the de facto Afghan authorities and the international community are trying to provide the necessary level of support both for local communities and for families who are returning.
LB: Now about what is happening in the east of the country. You have already mentioned Pakistan: there are clashes on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. How do these developments impact the mission’s ability to carry out its mission, and what diplomatic and humanitarian measures need to be taken to prevent further escalation and deterioration of the situation?
ZhG: And the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the General The UN Secretary called on all parties to de-escalate, choose the path of dialogue and protect civilians.
Inside Afghanistan, we are recording an increase in the number of civilian casualties as a result of these clashes. In addition, we are seeing disruptions in the supply of humanitarian aid that comes across the border.
People returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
Overall, the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan has remained closed since October, and this is already having a humanitarian and economic impact on communities and people on both sides of the border.
This is why we continue to call for de-escalation and dialogue, and support the efforts of UN Member States that offer mediation, and Pakistan and Afghanistan should seize this opportunity.
LB: UN agencies warn that funding for humanitarian operations is rapidly declining. What are the biggest challenges facing the UN mission and agencies right now, and what message would you like to send to donors?
ZhG: Funding is extremely limited. Humanitarian organizations have prepared a humanitarian response plan for 2026 in which they are asking for about $1.7 billion to support nearly half the country’s population.
The most pressing needs now are food, shelter and various types of medical care, including assistance to women and children.
These are the key problems and main requests. We again remind donors that Afghanistan is the second largest humanitarian crisis in the world today. To support the population and prevent serious consequences for people, the region and the country itself, increased funding is required.
LB: How does the UN prioritize assistance with limited resources?
ZhG: The most defenseless people and communities receive help first, and then other types of support are provided.
LB: Women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face severe restrictions in many areas – in education, in the labor market, in public life. What is the mission doing to defend their rights, and what levers exist in the current political conditions?
ZhG: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Together with others – Afghans, UN Member States and UN agencies – we are constantly and consistently working to end restrictions placed on women and girls.
We emphasize again and again the consequences this has for the country: for its economy, for the future, for girls and women themselves, and for society as a whole.
These restrictions have serious economic, political and, of course, social consequences.
We also emphasize that this issue remains a key obstacle to Afghanistan’s eventual reintegration into the international system and compliance with its international obligations, a goal that the Security Council has indicated the country needs to achieve.