UNAMA reports 185 civilians killed or injured in Afghanistan amid border clashes with Pakistan

Georgette Gagnon, head of UNAMA, stated that Afghanistan faces multiple crises, including the potential increase in returning migrants from Iran, which will pose challenges due to limited resources. She noted that over the past year and a half, more than four million migrants have returned from Iran and Pakistan. UN agencies including UNHCR and IOM are preparing aid at the Afghanistan-Iran border and in host communities.

Gagnon highlighted recent border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have increased civilian casualties and disrupted humanitarian aid deliveries. She said border crossings closed since October have caused humanitarian and economic consequences on both sides.

In a separate UNAMA report, the mission confirmed 185 civilian casualties in Afghanistan from February 26 to March 5 due to aerial attacks and indirect fire amid clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistan: 56 killed and 129 injured, with over half being women and children. One incident in Bermel district, Paktika province, killed 14 civilians including four women, two girls, five boys and three men, and injured six others. UNAMA noted this exceeds casualties from similar October 2025 clashes and urged all parties to protect civilians under international humanitarian law.

The World Food Programme warned that escalating border clashes in provinces including Paktia and Khost are restricting access to food aid and health services, deepening Afghanistan's hunger crisis amid economic collapse, drought and aid shortages. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported at least 16,370 families displaced in eastern Afghanistan.

Gagnon expressed concern over severe funding shortages for 2026 humanitarian operations, with agencies requesting 1.5 to nearly two billion dollars to assist nearly half of Afghanistan's population, focusing on food, shelter and health services, especially for women and children. She reiterated UN calls to lift restrictions on women and girls, viewing them as a major barrier to Afghanistan's global engagement.