International Leadership Encouraged to Amplify Assistance for Afghanistan's Stabilization
Afghanistan is currently facing a series of urgent humanitarian and development challenges, including large-scale forced returns of refugees, widespread internal displacement, severe restrictions on women and girls' rights, critical gaps in basic services, and an ongoing economic and food security crisis. These challenges have left over 22.9 million people—over half the population—in need of humanitarian assistance due to food insecurity, malnutrition, and lack of healthcare.
The United Nations Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, plays a strategic role in coordinating regional cooperation and mobilizing support to address these issues. This centre serves as a critical platform for regional dialogue, coordination, and technical assistance focused on the SDGs in Central Asia.
One of the key humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan as of 2025 is the expected return of over 3 million Afghans from neighbouring countries such as Iran and Pakistan. Many of these returns are expected to be forced, overwhelming fragile public services and host communities. Internally displaced people have reached 4.2 million, complicating aid delivery and increasing vulnerability. Women and girls face severe oppression under Taliban rule, including denial of education beyond grade six and restrictions on employment, heightening risks of poverty, early marriage, violence, and exploitation among returnees.
To support Afghanistan indirectly, the UN Regional Centre in Almatty promotes cross-border cooperation and strategic partnerships among Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, which hosts a large Afghan diaspora and refugee population. The centre facilitates policy alignment with SDG targets related to poverty alleviation, health, gender equality, and education that are critical priorities for Afghanistan’s stabilization and sustainable development. It also mobilizes resources and expertise to support humanitarian and development interventions tailored to Afghan needs, working with UN agencies, donor countries, and regional governments.
Kazakhstan's cooperation in this framework is vital given its geopolitical position, economic capacity, and hosting role for Afghan refugees. Kazakhstan contributes by participating in regional refugee response plans aimed at managing returnee flows safely and sustainably, offering humanitarian assistance and resettlement support, particularly for vulnerable populations such as women and children, and engaging in regional development initiatives through the UN Regional Centre that align with SDG implementation and resilience-building in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
In summary, Afghanistan's urgent challenges demand enhanced international and regional cooperation, with the UN Regional Centre for SDGs in Almatty facilitating coordination, knowledge sharing, and resource mobilization. Kazakhstan's active role as a regional partner is essential to support humanitarian relief and long-term development goals for Afghanistan amid ongoing instability. The United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Almatty has been inaugurated, but the Afghan government has not yet responded.
- In response to the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the United Nations Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Almaty is facilitating the sharing of knowledge and mobilizing resources to address issues such as general-news, politics, and the rights of women and girls, this being a critical priority.
- Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's active role in this framework is instrumental in providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to regional development initiatives for Afghanistan, particularly in areas like poverty alleviation, health, gender equality, and education, according to the SDG targets.
