UNHCR halts aid in Afghanistan over Taliban ban on women staff

ISLAMABAD: The UN refugee agency has announced the temporary suspension of assistance at its United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) encashment centres in Afghanistan following Taliban restrictions on female staff.

Sources said that Taliban authorities visited UN offices earlier this month and barred women employees from work.

Taliban officials have not responded to the UNHCR decision, which comes as refugee repatriation continues from Pakistan and Iran.

Hundreds of Afghan families, many of whom lived in Pakistan for over four decades, are crossing border points daily after Pakistan launched the third phase of its plan to repatriate nearly 1.3 million Afghans.

“We regret to inform you that, as of 9 September 2025, UNHCR Afghanistan and its partners are temporarily unable to process applications and provide assistance at the UNHCR encashment centres located in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Kabul, and Herat,” the UNHCR said on Wednesday.

UNHCR spokesman Qaisar Afridi confirmed the decision, noting that the agency provides returnees from Pakistan and Iran with cash assistance at these centres. Each family receives 12,000 afghani, in addition to 2,500 afghani per individual.

“The suspension is due to restrictions imposed on female staff, who are currently not permitted to attend to returnees or report to work. These limitations significantly affect UNHCR Afghanistan’s ability to deliver services in a safe, dignified, and inclusive manner, particularly for women and girls, but also for men and boys,” the statement added.

The agency said it is engaging with the Taliban authorities to resolve the issue and resume assistance as soon as possible. It added that the suspension is indefinite but applies only to cash and related services at encashment centres. Other parts of the return procedures at the border remain unaffected.

Pakistan announced a phased repatriation of Afghan refugees in 2023, starting with undocumented Afghans, followed by holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). Repatriation of Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders began on 1 September.

Tahir Khan