UN Women has released a new Gender Alert highlighting the disproportionate impact of recent cross-border hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan on women and girls.According to the report, at least 90,000 people have been affected by the clashes that escalated since late February.
Kabul 24: More than 52 percent of those impacted — over 47,000 individuals — are women and girls, while around 42,000 are men and boys. The violence, including artillery shelling, airstrikes, and drone attacks, has severely hit civilian populations in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan.
The conflicts have affected at least 10 provinces, including Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Parwan, Paktia, and Paktika.
UN Women noted that approximately 11,368 families have been impacted, of which 935 are female-headed households. This situation further increases the vulnerability of women in crisis conditions.The report also points out significant challenges in humanitarian response.
In some southeastern areas, women aid workers were either absent from assessment teams or their participation was limited mainly to health and education sectors. Key obstacles include lack of resources, logistical constraints, and insufficient suitable vehicles for reaching affected zones.
UN Women emphasized the urgent need to strengthen women’s access to essential services, protection mechanisms, and meaningful participation in relief efforts. Effective response requires addressing the specific needs of women and girls to ensure inclusive and equitable humanitarian assistance.
This Gender Alert underscores the heavy toll that ongoing military hostilities are taking on Afghan civilians, particularly women and girls, who often bear the brunt of displacement, loss of livelihoods, damaged housing, and limited access to healthcare and other basic services. Many affected families have already faced multiple crises, including previous displacements and natural disasters.
The report calls for greater inclusion of women in all stages of humanitarian planning and delivery. It stresses that without targeted support and the active involvement of female aid workers, the most vulnerable groups risk being overlooked in the response.
As cross-border tensions continue, UN Women urges all parties to prioritize civilian protection and facilitate safe, unimpeded access for humanitarian actors, especially women, to deliver life-saving assistance.
This latest assessment adds to growing concerns about the gendered impacts of conflict in the region and highlights the importance of gender-sensitive approaches in both immediate relief and longer-term recovery efforts.
