KABUL, Afghanistan — The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has warned Taliban officials that excluding women and girls from education and public life will make development in Afghanistan impossible.
During a visit to Kabul, Fletcher met with several senior Taliban figures, including Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdul Salam Hanafi, and Acting Minister of Economy Din Mohammad Hanif. In those meetings, he emphasized that the plight of Afghan women remains a top priority for the United Nations.
“Development is impossible without girls’ education and full participation,” Fletcher said, underscoring the urgent need to lift restrictions on women’s roles in Afghan society and the humanitarian response.
The visit comes as Afghanistan faces one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. According to the UN, nearly 23 million people — more than half the country’s population — require life-saving assistance this year. At the same time, international humanitarian efforts are being strained by deep funding cuts.
In a social media post during his trip, Fletcher said the UN remains determined to deliver for the Afghan people. He also met with humanitarian partners operating in the country, recognizing their role in delivering critical assistance under increasingly difficult conditions.
Discussions with Taliban officials also addressed the effects of budget constraints on aid programs, the need to ease bureaucratic barriers, and the influx of returnees from Pakistan. Fletcher reiterated the critical role of women in humanitarian operations and pressed for the reduction of policies that hinder the effectiveness of international assistance.
