The United Nations said Wednesday that Afghanistan’s nearly 48-hour internet and telecommunications shutdown disrupted humanitarian operations, grounded flights and violated Afghans’ rights to information and expression.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that the blackout, imposed without explanation by the Taliban, also hampered the UN mission’s Security Council–mandated work in Kabul and delayed life-saving aid, including assistance to victims of recent earthquakes.
“The cut was implemented without clear explanation from the de facto Taliban authorities and appears to have been reversed also without an explanation,” Dujarric said.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the outage risked undermining economic stability, worsening conditions for women and girls, and infringing on Afghans’ rights to privacy. It also halted commercial and UN flights, which have since resumed.
“The UN welcomes the reversal of this ban, and will continue to watch developments closely,” Dujarric added.
