Sources have told Amu that the United Nations refugee agency has temporarily closed cash assistance centers for returnees in four provinces, citing Taliban restrictions that bar women from working.
The closures, which took effect on Sept. 9, affect distribution sites in Nangarhar, Kandahar, Kabul and Herat, sources said, citing a message from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Sources added that the office has said that the ban on female staff prevents the UNHCR from delivering assistance in a way that is safe, respectful and fair, not only for women and girls, but also for all returnees.
Many women who have recently returned from Pakistan and Iran depend on female aid workers to access services in conditions that respect cultural norms, the agency noted.
According to sources, UNHCR said it is in discussions with Taliban officials to resolve the issue but could not provide a timeline for reopening the centers. “We do not yet know how long this closure will continue,” the organization said, emphasizing that other operations, including cross-border return assistance, remain ongoing.
The UN estimates that 23.7 million Afghans — more than half the population — need humanitarian assistance this year. Neighboring countries, including Iran and Pakistan, have deported hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants in recent months, further straining already vulnerable communities.
Aid groups warn that cash transfers, widely regarded as one of the most effective forms of humanitarian support in Afghanistan, cannot easily be replaced.
