AGP Executive Report

TB & mental health: A UK-funded study says 90% of TB patients in Pakistan and Afghanistan suffer from depression, which can derail treatment and raise the risk of multi-drug resistant TB. Public health & nutrition: WHO-linked reporting highlights the scale of foodborne illness globally, while separate coverage warns millions of Afghan children face acute malnutrition risk in 2026. Humanitarian aid: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid Al-Adha Sacrifice campaign reached 247,344 beneficiaries in Qatar and 13 countries including Afghanistan, delivering meat and support through local partners. Infectious disease monitoring: Rawalpindi’s anti-polio campaign reported all environmental samples negative for poliovirus and all third-party quality checks passed; a suspected CCHF case also tested negative. Health access backdrop: UN reporting notes only a small share of Afghans have electricity access, underscoring barriers to healthcare and services. Violence & health impact: A gun attack in Landi Kotal killed a Pakistan Army soldier and a truck driver, with protests blocking the Pak-Afghan highway.

Humanitarian Aid: Qatar Red Crescent’s Eid Al-Adha campaign reached 247,344 beneficiaries in Qatar and 13 countries across Asia and Africa, including Afghanistan, delivering sacrificial meat through coordinated field teams and local partners. Education Access: A Farah province report says thousands of children in returnee and internally displaced settlements lack functioning public schools, forcing many to work instead of studying due to distance and poverty. Women’s Rights & Safety: Reports say Taliban authorities in Herat warn women could face detention over dress code rules, while UN-linked coverage highlights ongoing gender-based violence risks for women and girls in Afghanistan. Health & Nutrition: UNICEF and WHO updates in the week point to continued pressure on child health in Afghanistan, including risks of acute malnutrition for millions of children and efforts to train health workers for child development. Cross-Border Strain: Coverage from Spin Boldak/Chaman alleges people smuggling networks are operating amid border closures, with families facing unemployment and separation—conditions that also disrupt access to medical care.

Humanitarian Funding: The UN in Kabul says it needs an extra $331.5m to support 1.4m people in Lebanon, warning that hospitals and health centres are damaged and health workers face rising risks as displacement grows. Return & Reintegration: UNHCR reports 700,000+ Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since early 2026, including 400,000 from Pakistan, with returnees struggling for shelter, jobs, and even hospital costs. Food Security: WFP warns the Middle East conflict and shipping disruptions are pushing hunger further, with Afghanistan facing 17.4m people affected and 2.3m more at risk if border closures and trade shocks continue. Afghan Health Access Under Pressure: WFP also flags that funding shortfalls and disrupted supply chains are already turning away vulnerable people from medical clinics, while millions face worsening conditions. Road Safety: In Punjab, a head-on crash killed 8 and injured 15+, underscoring ongoing transport risks that can quickly overwhelm local emergency care.

Food Security Alarm: The UN World Food Programme says the Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions are already driving hunger in Afghanistan, with an updated warning that 2.3 million more people could be pushed into acute food insecurity, as aid faces funding shortfalls and supply-chain strain. Water & Climate Pressure: UNAMA reports more than half of Afghans are affected by water scarcity, with drought, failing irrigation, and extreme weather damaging crops and public health—especially in southern provinces. Maternal & Child Health Risks: UNICEF and WHO-linked reporting highlights Afghanistan’s worsening health outlook, including high maternal mortality and millions of children at risk of acute malnutrition. Health System Access Under Strain: WFP describes mothers leaving rural clinics in desperation because nutrition supplies have run out, showing how rising food and fuel costs are hitting frontline services. UNFPA Staff Loss: The UN confirmed the death of a UNFPA female staff member in Afghanistan, with no official cause released.

Maternal & child nutrition alarm: WHO warns 3.7 million Afghan children face acute malnutrition in 2026, with WFP also saying malnutrition is nearing record levels—an urgent call for sustained food and health support. Polio push in the region: Despite refusals, Pakistan’s polio drive vaccinated 18.6 million children across 79 high-risk districts, showing how outreach can still close immunity gaps. Healthcare access under pressure: OCHA reports Taliban restrictions are limiting mothers’ and newborns’ access to life-saving services, while UNICEF highlights continued needs for life-saving healthcare and safe water support in Afghanistan. Gender and health risks: UN Women warns 50,000 women and girls face rising gender-based violence risks in conflict-hit areas, linking safety directly to health outcomes. EU legal protection for Afghans: The European Court of Justice ruled Germany’s asylum benefit cuts for rejected Afghan applicants unlawfully remove basic necessities like clothing and household items. Medical tourism safety shock: A deadly Delhi hotel fire killed patients and attendants, including Afghans, spotlighting unsafe lodging around hospitals and the need for stronger oversight.

UNICEF Health Support: UNICEF says it is visiting health facilities and health workers in Badakhshan and sending additional medicines to sustain life-saving care across Afghanistan. Child Health & Protection: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression highlights how poverty and deprivation push Afghan children into street work and unsafe conditions, with psychologists warning violence goes beyond war. Mental Health Advocacy: Veteran advocates in the U.S. are pushing to reframe PTSD as an “injury” to reduce stigma and address rising suicide rates. Maternal & Nutrition Pressure: WHO and UN reporting this week points to acute malnutrition risks for millions of Afghan children and ongoing strain on health services. Access to Care Under Strain: Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation is flagged as worsening, with aid shortfalls and facility closures cutting off medical access for many communities. Healthcare in Crisis Context: MSF warns attacks on healthcare workers and facilities are increasing, threatening already fragile systems.

Maternal & child health crisis: WHO says more than three million children in Afghanistan are at risk of acute malnutrition, while UN Women warns 50,000 women and girls face growing gender-based violence risks in conflict-hit areas. Nutrition & water support: UNICEF is providing nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and clean water via 25 health and nutrition centers for 678,000 people in Daikundi and Paktia, and also supports early childhood development through parenting-skills training. Health system access: OCHA reports Taliban restrictions are limiting mothers’ and newborns’ access to life-saving services. Flood response: The EU approved €50,000 through the Red Cross/Red Crescent to support flood-affected families with shelter, cash help, drinking water, sanitation, and healthcare services. Prevention & public health: UNICEF highlights training for health workers on child growth and development, while a modified injectable polio vaccine approach is being studied to improve gut immunity for eradication efforts. Food security & climate: FAO expects June rainfall to stay near normal but warns of localized heavy rain, hail, and heat that could worsen crop conditions. Community health risks: Residents in Kabul raise concerns about poor urban civic practices and livestock keeping in city areas, linking it to rising pollution and public health hazards.

Humanitarian Funding: Iceland donated about US$402,000 to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, but UN figures show only 16% of the 2026 appeal is funded so far, leaving millions at risk as conflict, flooding, and cross-border insecurity disrupt health services. Nutrition & Child Health: UNICEF says it is supporting nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and clean water for more than 678,000 people in Daikundi and Paktia through health and nutrition centers, while WHO warns over three million children face acute malnutrition. Health Workforce Support: UNICEF also highlighted training for health workers and early childhood development support for parents, linking play and caregiving to better child growth outcomes. Flood Response: The EU added €50,000 via the Red Cross/Red Crescent for flood-affected families, including cash assistance plus water and sanitation support, as severe weather continues to damage homes and farmland. Aid Access Pressure: OCHA reports humanitarian operations are struggling with funding shortfalls and worsening conditions, including damage to health facilities and schools from violence along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border.

Maternal & child health crisis: UN agencies warn Afghanistan is facing severe malnutrition and maternal health risks, including WHO reporting more than three million children at risk of acute malnutrition and UN Women saying around 50,000 women and girls face growing gender-based violence risks in conflict-affected areas, with pregnant women hit hardest by food shortages and limited care. Humanitarian funding squeeze: OCHA says Afghanistan’s 2026 humanitarian plan is only 16% funded ($269m of $1.7b), putting life-saving food, healthcare, and emergency support for millions at risk. Access barriers to care: OCHA reports Taliban restrictions are limiting mothers’ and newborns’ access to life-saving services, while UN Women highlights limited healthcare access for women and girls in areas affected by border conflicts and disasters. Public health threats from environment: Reports from Kabul describe Eid slaughter waste left in city drainage ditches, with residents and experts warning it could worsen air pollution and raise disease risk if not cleaned. Health system strain from insecurity: MSF warns attacks on healthcare are rising, and the wider region’s instability continues to disrupt services and worker safety. Policy direction: Finance Minister Amir Khosru says Bangladesh plans UHC in its next budget (included here as a regional health-policy signal), aiming to reduce out-of-pocket spending—an approach Afghanistan advocates can learn from.

Humanitarian Funding Crunch: UN OCHA says Afghanistan’s 2026 humanitarian response is only 16% funded ($269m of $1.71b), warning that millions could lose access to life-saving help as health facilities close or cut services. Gender-Based Violence Risk: UN Women warns about 50,000 Afghan women and girls in conflict-hit eastern areas face rising gender-based violence, with pregnant women among the most vulnerable as healthcare access deteriorates. Food Security Leadership Change: Carl Skau has taken over as Acting Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, stepping in as acute hunger surges and resources fall short. Infectious Disease Outreach: WHO reports more than 37,000 people reached in Badakhshan through a one-week community awareness campaign on infectious diseases and prevention. Road Safety & Health Impacts: A Parwan traffic crash killed 8 and injured 16, including children, with the wounded transferred to Parwan Civil Hospital. Regional Refugee Pressure: NRC chief Jan Egeland says millions of Afghan refugees in Iran face worsening conditions amid conflict disruption and a funding gap.

Maternal Health Crisis: OCHA says Afghanistan has one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, with about 600 mothers dying per 100,000 live births, and warns Taliban restrictions on women’s participation are limiting access to skilled care and women health workers. Newborn Access Blocked: OCHA also flags that mothers and newborns are not getting life-saving services because of limits on women’s roles and participation in healthcare, worsening already high risk around childbirth. Healthcare System Under Pressure: The same OCHA update ties the problem to broader barriers to women’s access to services, including earlier bans affecting mental health and psychosocial support, leaving families with fewer options when complications arise.

Maternal Health Access: OCHA says Taliban restrictions are limiting mothers’ and newborns’ access to life-saving care in Afghanistan, with about 600 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and bans on women’s participation in parts of health services. Child Nutrition Crisis: WHO warns 3.7 million Afghan children under 5 face acute malnutrition in 2026, including about 95,000 severe cases that can be fatal without prompt treatment. Road Safety & Injury Risk: Residents in Badakhshan report frequent deadly traffic crashes blamed on poor roads, weak driver licensing checks, and reckless driving. Deadly Returnee Crash: In Laghman, a truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan overturned, killing at least 22 people including 10 children; injured survivors were taken to hospitals in Nangarhar. Humanitarian Footprint: OCHA reports 309 aid organizations operating across Afghanistan in early 2026, with Kabul and Kunar among the largest presences as funding pressures grow. Reconstruction Lessons: A new SIGAR report says U.S. reconstruction efforts made “staggering” mistakes, noting progress in health and maternal care but warning it was hard to sustain.

Cancer Care: Kabul reports a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine says the oral drug daraxonrasib nearly doubles survival for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have RAS mutations, with common side effects including rash and diarrhea. Medicines Access: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health has agreed with Russian firm Pharmasyntez to start medicine exports this summer, with first shipments expected within two months—patients stress the need for quality drugs to protect treatment outcomes. Road Safety & Emergency Care: In Laghman province, a truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan crashed after the driver fell asleep, killing at least 22 people (including 10 children) and injuring 36 who were taken to hospitals. Mental Health: Uruzgan authorities detained a man accused of attempting suicide, with officials pointing to stressors like unemployment, poverty, and limited access to care. Tobacco Prevention: WHO marks World No Tobacco Day, warning tobacco harms are widespread in Afghanistan and urging stronger action, especially as naswar use and youth uptake rise. Energy for Health & Schools: UNDP says rural Afghanistan’s electricity is unreliable and costly, limiting school hours and health services, while a SESEHA project is expanding power for education and care. Nutrition for Women: UNICEF highlights iron and folic acid supplements to prevent anemia among adolescent girls and women, supported by EU-backed efforts to reach those most in need. Gender & Education Restrictions: A Taliban cleric in Kabul says girls’ and women’s schooling is “forbidden,” allowing only narrow religious topics under strict conditions.

Road Safety & Public Health: A truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan overturned on the Kabul–Nangarhar highway in Laghman, killing at least 22 people (including 10 children and five women) and injuring about 36; officials said the driver fell asleep and victims were taken to hospitals in Nangarhar. Maternal & Child Health: In Ghor’s Ferozkoh, women report side effects from contraceptives used for birth spacing, while doctors stress that spacing pregnancies can protect mothers and newborns. Nutrition & Women’s Health: UNICEF highlights iron and folic acid supplements to prevent anemia among adolescent girls and women, noting health workers are trying to deliver them regularly with EU support. Tobacco Control: WHO marked World No Tobacco Day urging stronger action in Afghanistan, warning tobacco companies use sweet flavors and deceptive marketing to hook users, especially young people. Energy & Health Access: UNDP says unreliable electricity in rural Afghanistan limits school hours and weakens health services, with a project in Laghman supporting a school for 250 students (96 girls). Medicine Supply: Russian firm Pharmasyntez plans to start exporting medicines to Afghanistan this summer after an agreement with Afghan public health authorities. Gender Rights & Child Protection: UN documents 21 cases of conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in 2025 attributed to Taliban officials, and protests in Norway condemn Taliban recognition of child marriage as a threat to girls’ futures. Food Security: WFP warns hunger is worsening as aid funding falls, saying 17.4 million people need urgent food help and millions of women and children may need malnutrition treatment in 2026.

Road Safety & Emergency Care: A truck carrying Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan overturned on the Kabul–Jalalabad highway in Laghman province, killing at least 22 people (including 10 children and five women) and injuring around 36; officials say the driver fell asleep, and the wounded were taken to hospitals in Nangarhar. Public Health & Vaccination: UNICEF says the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is backing routine vaccination and polio eradication in Afghanistan, where nine polio cases were reported last year; a new 2026 campaign aims to vaccinate about 8.3 million children under five across 20 provinces. Women’s Health & Protection: A UN report to the Security Council documents 21 cases of Taliban-related sexual violence against women in 2025, including rape, forced marriage and forced nudity, while humanitarian funding cuts have reduced safe spaces and survivor support, including medical and psychosocial care. Local Incident: In Nuristan’s Parun, a car plunged into a river, leaving four passengers missing and the driver injured; rescue efforts are ongoing.

Medicine Access: Kandahar residents warn that Pakistan medicine import bans and trade/transit suspensions have sharply reduced drug availability while prices and counterfeit-quality risks rise, with shortages reported for common cold/fever, antibiotics, insulin, blood pressure medicines, IV fluids, children’s syrups, asthma inhalers and heart drugs. Public Health & Disaster Safety: WHO in Afghanistan urges people to treat flood precautions seriously even after waters recede, advising risk checks, staying away from flood-prone areas, keeping homes clean and dry, and seeking mental health support if needed. Humanitarian Aid Delivery: UN-linked reporting highlights growing obstacles to humanitarian assistance reaching Afghanistan, with WFP warning that disruptions to food supplies for malnourished mothers and children are worsening. Women’s Health & Rights: Multiple pieces focus on menstruation taboo and the urgent need for education and open discussion, including the hidden health risks tied to poverty and lack of safe menstrual supplies. Healthcare Workforce & Training (Global): Brattleboro Retreat’s doctoral psychology internship program is reaccredited by the American Psychological Association through 2035, supporting mental health training for rural and underserved communities. Security & Health System Strain: Coverage notes Afghanistan’s broader humanitarian and socioeconomic pressures under hard-border, security-first policies, with knock-on effects for welfare and access.