The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has recorded at least 30 incidents involving restrictions and interference with humanitarian activities in Afghanistan, including the detention of two aid workers in Herat.
According to OCHA’s latest humanitarian access assessment, 16 of the incidents involved interference with humanitarian operations, while 12 were linked to violence against humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities. Two additional cases involved restrictions on the movement of aid workers or humanitarian supplies.
The incidents included delays in signing memorandums of understanding, interference in the selection of aid recipients and programme implementation, as well as demands for staff lists and other sensitive information. Restrictions affecting female humanitarian workers and requirements for women to be accompanied by a male guardian also disrupted relief activities.
OCHA reported that two humanitarian workers were detained in Herat, raising further concerns about the safety of aid personnel operating in the country. Herat recorded the highest number of humanitarian access incidents among Afghan provinces, according to the assessment.
The UN agency said the southern and western regions recorded the largest number of incidents. Overall, 18 humanitarian programmes were temporarily suspended, while two aid facilities were temporarily closed as a result of access restrictions.
Although 11 of the 30 incidents had been resolved by the end of July, 19 remained unresolved, highlighting continued challenges for humanitarian organisations attempting to deliver assistance to vulnerable communities.
OCHA said discussions with relevant authorities were continuing in several cases to address the restrictions and facilitate humanitarian operations across Afghanistan.