UN Reports Majority of Female Heads of Households Deprived of Basic Needs Amid Economic Crisis in Afghanistan
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has revealed that 88 percent of women who head households are deprived of basic necessities such as livelihood and food, a situation that has intensified economic pressure on the most vulnerable segments of society. According to the report, only 7 percent of female household heads have been able to work outside the home, highlighting severe constraints on employment opportunities for women. Simultaneously, the agency notes that 75 percent of the country’s population faces livelihood insecurity.
In response, the UNDP stated that the European Union is funding a project aimed at financially supporting women-led businesses to empower women economically. However, the ongoing extensive restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women’s work and social participation pose serious challenges to the effective implementation of such programs.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had previously warned that Afghanistan will remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026. The report highlighted that years of war, economic fragility, and insufficient investment in essential services have weakened the resilience of large segments of the population.
OCHA’s findings show that these pressures are now exacerbated by food insecurity, the widespread return of migrants from borders, drought due to climate change, natural disasters, and the systemic exclusion of women and girls from public life. It is estimated that in 2026, approximately 21.9 million people, equivalent to 45 percent of Afghanistan’s population, will require humanitarian assistance.
