Source: United Nations (video statements)
UN Women’s Special Representative in Afghanistan, Susan Ferguson, today (17 Mar) told journalists in New York that for women and girls in Afghanistan, “2026 was already proving to be an extremely difficult year,” and with the conflict in the Middle East and ongoing hostilities with Pakistan, “many are facing even more trauma and hardship.”
Briefing virtually from Kabul, Ferguson said, “at least 64,000 people have been affected by the military escalation, just over half of them women and girls. This includes thousands of families who’ve been displaced yet again after living for six months in temporary camps following the August 2025 earthquake. And among them are women and girls who’ve already returned from, Iran or Pakistan.”
She said in Afghanistan, “women’s most urgent needs are shelter, health care and clean water,” and noted that UN Women “is working with partners to ensure women are included in assessment teams, so their needs are understood, and to support access to services for women.”
Ferguson reiterated the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s (UNAMA) calls for “immediate cessation in hostilities to prevent further loss of civilian life, and for all parties to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
In western Afghanistan, she said, “we anticipate a sharp increase in Afghans returning from Iran in the coming weeks, including women traveling alone or with children,” and stressed that UN Women and partners are “prepared to deploy more women humanitarians at the border to help Afghan women returnees with registration and support services.”
UN Women, Ferguson continued, “is mobilizing resources to expand cash support for women headed households, provide well-being or dignity kits, and help them start small livelihood businesses,” while also continuing to support women-only safe spaces.
She said, “we urgently need more funding to meet these needs at this critical” and stressed that “women and girls in Afghanistan simply can’t afford yet another economic shock.”
The UN Women official said, “when we start to accept this as normal, we stop believing it can change and we stop seeing it. So, to the international community, including decision makers, gathered in New York this week for the Commission on the Status of Women, I would say, don’t call this normal. Despite all the obstacles and restrictions, Afghan women continue to show extraordinary courage and determination, and we need to as well. Change is still possible, but only if the world continues to stand with Afghan women.”
Asked about the role of UN Women in Afghanistan if UNAMA’s mandate is not renewed, she said, “we will continue on, no matter what happens with UNAMA, adding that “whether the mandate is rolled over or not, UN women will remain in the country, and it will be even more important that we’re here, because we will continue to focus on the needs and issues of women and girls.”