AGP Executive Report

COP31 Climate Diplomacy: Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency chief Mawlavi Mati-ul-Haq Khalis met Azerbaijan’s ambassador in Kabul, urging Azerbaijan to help facilitate Afghanistan’s official participation in COP31 in Türkiye, alongside calls for stronger regional cooperation and technical exchange. Humanitarian Alarm on Food & Climate: A UN-backed REACH assessment says malnutrition is rising in 53% of Afghanistan’s surveyed areas, driven by food-price hikes, economic hardship, climate shocks, and shrinking humanitarian support; it estimates 21.9 million people need aid. Water, Floods, and Pollution Pressure: Kabul residents continue to face long power and water shortages, while reports highlight pollution concerns in Baghlan and ongoing flood impacts in eastern provinces, underscoring how climate stress is compounding daily environmental risks. Public Health Watch: A positive poliovirus environmental sample in Safdarabad triggered a four-day anti-polio campaign starting August 10, with intensified surveillance and vaccination in high-risk areas.

Humanitarian Returns: OCHA says more Afghan families are being forced to return from Pakistan, with shelter, livelihoods, education, and healthcare urgently needed as the returnee influx grows. Food & Nutrition Crisis: A UN-backed assessment reports malnutrition rising in 53% of Afghanistan’s communities, with food price spikes and shrinking aid pushing more households toward hunger. Climate-Linked Disaster Pressure: IOM and UN partners warn climate disasters are deepening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, adding to displacement and food insecurity. Water & Flood Response: UNICEF is providing emergency safe drinking water to flood-affected people in Nuristan, as eastern Afghanistan continues to face damaging floods. Livelihoods Under Stress: In Bamyan, women are turning to traditional dairy production to survive rising poverty and climate pressures, selling milk and qurut to cover household costs. Pollution Accountability: Baghlan residents demand control of Ghori Cement pollution, highlighting local environmental health concerns. Water Access in Kabul: Kabul residents report persistent power outages and long waits for water, raising fears for sanitation and public health.

Humanitarian Nutrition: A UN-backed assessment says malnutrition is rising fast across Afghanistan, with 53% of surveyed communities reporting increases and 44% saying cases doubled in the last three months, as food prices climb and aid shrinks. Food Security Aid: The Republic of Korea pledged USD 30 million to WFP’s REACH Phase II to deliver emergency food and nutrition support in Afghanistan and other crisis-hit countries, targeting more than 1.2 million people. Climate & Livelihood Pressure: Women in Bamyan are leaning on traditional dairy work—qurut, yoghurt and cheese—to survive worsening poverty and climate impacts like drought and lower farm output. Local Pollution Fight: Baghlan residents are demanding action over Ghori Cement Factory pollution, saying smoke and particles are settling on homes and worsening health, especially for children and the elderly. Water & Health Risk: Flash floods and water stress continue to threaten communities, while polio surveillance in Pakistan flagged a positive environmental sample linked to movement from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar.

Air Quality & Health: Baghlan residents say Ghori Cement Factory’s smoke and dust are worsening air pollution, settling on homes daily, and raising illness fears—especially for children and the elderly—while they accuse the plant of using substandard fuels and lacking effective filtration. Water Heritage: UNESCO reports 16 qanats restored across Afghanistan with Japanese support, benefiting 1,731 families and helping protect traditional underground irrigation and drinking-water systems damaged by conflict and climate pressures. Flood Risk & Climate Extremes: A new report argues “natural disasters” are being driven to harsher extremes by greenhouse gas emissions, pointing to record heat, larger wildfires, and rising flood exposure—an outlook that matters for Afghanistan’s flood-prone communities. Returnee Pressure: UNDP and UNHCR warn that Afghanistan’s massive returnee influx is colliding with poverty and climate shocks, urging urgent, sustained investment to prevent deeper displacement. Hunger & Aid Gaps: UN agencies highlight that funding shortfalls are worsening Afghanistan’s hunger crisis, with millions facing critical food insecurity.

Refugee Return Pressure: UNDP and UNHCR chiefs Alexander De Croo and Filippo Grandi (UNHCR) urged sustained investment as millions of Afghans keep returning, warning aid cuts and climate shocks are deepening poverty and displacement. Humanitarian Funding Crunch: OCHA says only 26% of Afghanistan’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is funded, leaving a $1.3bn gap and threatening life-saving health and reproductive services. Hunger & Malnutrition: WFP and partners warn hunger is worsening; Action Against Hunger reports Helmand malnutrition treatment centers hit full capacity fast, with therapeutic food and medical supplies running short. Climate-Linked Disasters: OCHA highlights climate vulnerability after Nuristan floods, while heavy rain and flooding in the region continue to destroy homes and farmland. Energy & Power Resilience: With Kabul’s outages ongoing, experts say solar expansion could ease the grid burden, though costs and import dependence remain barriers. Livestock Support: The EU approved €11m to strengthen veterinary services and climate-resilient livelihoods for about 300,000 families across 17 provinces. Global Environment Leadership: The GEF named Diego Mesa Puyo as its next CEO and chair, signaling fresh momentum for 2030 environmental goals.

Humanitarian Funding Crunch: OCHA says only 26% of Afghanistan’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is funded, leaving a roughly $1.3bn gap and threatening services including reproductive health support. Hunger & Malnutrition Surge: WFP warns 14 million Afghans face acute food insecurity, with child malnutrition at critical levels in multiple provinces; Action Against Hunger reports Helmand’s malnutrition treatment centers hit full capacity and warns therapeutic food and medical supply shortages are worsening outcomes. Climate-Linked Disasters: UN officials say floods in Nuristan and repeated climate shocks are deepening poverty and hunger, while families struggle to recover and seek work instead of aid. Energy & Resilience: Kabul’s persistent power outages are driving calls for solar investment, though experts note high costs and import dependence remain barriers. Livestock & Food Security Aid: The EU approved €11m to strengthen Afghanistan’s livestock sector across 17 provinces, aiming to improve animal health, food security, and climate-resilient livelihoods for about 300,000 families. Urban Planning Warning: UN-Habitat says Afghanistan’s cities are not prepared for rising urbanization, with half the population expected to live in cities by 2060. Public Health Focus: UNICEF highlights breastfeeding support as key to children’s healthy starts, echoing WHO warnings about delaying early breastfeeding.

Humanitarian Alarm: UN warns Afghanistan’s hunger and malnutrition are worsening as funding cuts bite, with child acute malnutrition at critical levels in 12 provinces and WFP saying it can only reach a fraction of those who need help. Climate & Disaster Impacts: Flash floods and heavy rains continue to kill and displace people in eastern Afghanistan, while communities report repeated climate shocks that keep them from recovering. Returnee Pressure on Cities: UN-Habitat says nearly 6 million Afghans have returned since late 2023, adding strain to housing, services, and infrastructure. Health System Under Strain: WHO highlights that Afghanistan’s health strategy must go beyond clinics, including education, nutrition, safe water, and support—while restrictions and aid declines worsen access. Livestock & Food Security Support: EU and Australia announce over $19m in new aid, including veterinary services to protect animal health and climate-resilient livelihoods. Governance & Rights Context: WHO and OCHA briefings underscore that security alone won’t stop hunger; meanwhile, reports also note Taliban restrictions such as a crackdown on phones.

Flood Risk: Flash floods from heavy rain killed at least two people in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nuristan, damaging homes and farmland and warning more flooding may follow. Child Nutrition Crisis: WFP says child acute malnutrition is at critical levels in 12 provinces, with funding shortfalls forcing cuts as the crisis is expected to worsen through October. Public Health & Education: WHO warns Afghanistan’s healthcare strategy can’t succeed without investment in education, nutrition, safe drinking water, and social support, citing shortages of female health workers and reduced aid. Polio Watch: WHO reports Afghanistan has recorded 15 wild polio cases in 2026 so far—the highest globally—highlighting gaps in immunization and cross-border movement. Returnee Pressure: UN-Habitat says nearly 6 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since late 2023, straining housing, services, and infrastructure amid climate vulnerability. Health Strategy Launch: Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate unveiled a five-year national health strategy focused on standardized care, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and boosting domestic production of medicines and vaccines. Water & Climate Context: The wider week’s coverage also points to worsening climate stress and extreme weather impacts across the region, reinforcing Afghanistan’s vulnerability.

Food Security Alarm: WFP warns Afghanistan’s child malnutrition crisis is worsening, with critical acute malnutrition in 12 provinces and child food insecurity hitting 47%—and funding shortfalls forcing life-saving nutrition programmes to scale back. Public Health: WHO reports Afghanistan has 15 wild polio cases in 2026 (highest globally), with no new human infections in the latest week but continued positive environmental samples. Flood Risk: Heavy rain is driving flash-flood danger in eastern Afghanistan; Nuristan’s Barg-e-Matal district saw floods damage about 200 homes, with casualties feared but not yet confirmed. Humanitarian Funding Gap: OCHA says planned 2026 food aid for 11.9 million people has fallen to 4.3 million reached by end of May, leaving 7.6 million without support amid drought and overlapping crises.

Flood Response: Flash floods from heavy rainfall have damaged around 200 homes in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan, with casualties feared but not yet confirmed, as steep terrain and limited infrastructure leave communities highly exposed. Emergency Water: UNICEF set up a temporary safe drinking water supply in Nuristan with a capacity of 60,000 liters for about 2,000 flood-affected people, warning that damaged water systems can trigger waterborne disease. Food Security: UN OCHA says funding shortfalls have left 7.6 million Afghans without planned food assistance in 2026, after only 4.3 million received support by end of May, amid drought, a fragile economy, and overlapping crises. Water & Land Pressure: UN-Habitat highlights that housing, land, and property issues are central to handling Afghanistan’s returnee crisis and rapid urbanization, citing document gaps, land disputes, and shortages of adequate housing. Climate Leadership Lens: A new climate-focused collection argues that “war on terror” policies have normalized “disposability,” linking security decisions to harm done to communities and ecosystems.

Green Farming in Baghlan: Baghlan’s agriculture department says 250 greenhouses were set up across the province over two years, creating jobs and pushing scientific vegetable cultivation with support from partner organizations. Aquaculture in Bamyan: Bamyan’s fish farming is expanding fast, with farms rising from 5 to 25 as investors look to the province’s climate and water resources, though feed costs are squeezing production and exports. Urban Water Stress in Kabul: Kabul residents report worsening water shortages, with wells drying up and families forced to buy tanker water or queue for hours, deepening inequality across neighborhoods. Human Trafficking Risk for Returnees: UNODC and IOM warn that overlapping crises—forced returns, reduced aid, natural disasters, and rights restrictions—are increasing trafficking, exploitation, and forced labor risks for Afghan returnees. Return Numbers Rise: Taliban officials say 1,979 people returned in one day via border crossings, while IOM cautions that without sustainable opportunities, returnees may face renewed exploitation and dangerous irregular migration. UN-Habitat on City Growth: UN-Habitat highlights rapid urban expansion, urging smarter planning and infrastructure investment to keep neighborhoods livable as cities grow.

Human Trafficking Risk: UNODC and IOM warn Afghanistan’s overlapping crises—forced returns, shrinking aid, natural disasters, and rights restrictions—are pushing more people toward trafficking, exploitation, and forced labour. Return Pressure: The Taliban says 1,979 people returned in one day, while IOM cautions that without sustainable jobs and support, returnees may be driven back into dangerous irregular migration. Kabul Water Crisis: Kabul residents report worsening water shortages, with families waiting hours or buying tanker water, deepening inequality across neighborhoods. Urban Planning: UN-Habitat highlights rapid city growth in Mahmud Raqi, urging smarter urban planning and infrastructure investment to keep neighborhoods livable. Migration Deaths: Authorities recovered 14 Afghan nationals who died trying to reach Iran through Nimroz’s desert heat, underscoring the lethal risks of irregular routes. EU Deportations: Amnesty urges the EU to halt forced returns to Afghanistan, citing unsafe conditions and serious rights abuses. Health Supply Gap: Hemophilia patients report shortages of factors 8 and 9, forcing weekly plasma use and raising bleeding risks. Environment & Disaster Context: Flood and heavy-rain warnings continue to loom across the region, adding to Afghanistan’s strain on livelihoods and services.

Water Security in Kabul: Kabul residents say worsening water shortages are forcing families to buy tanker water at high prices or wait hours in long lines, with wells drying up and inequality widening. Migration Risks in Nimroz: Authorities recovered 14 Afghan migrants dead after a desert crossing toward Iran, as extreme heat and reliance on smugglers highlight the deadly environmental conditions along irregular routes. Local Protest Crackdown: Reports from Badakhshan’s Yaftal-e Payen say Taliban forces suppressed a protest after a woman was searched, with gunfire reported and at least four deaths claimed by media. Polio Response: A new 10-day polio vaccination campaign is set to begin nationwide as Afghanistan reports fresh wild poliovirus cases, with children also receiving other routine immunizations. Regional Connectivity: The World Bank says disruptions to Afghanistan’s Pakistan trade routes are pushing businesses toward Iran and Central Asia corridors, while Uzbekistan’s vision frames Afghanistan as a key transit link for a “common development space.”

Water Crisis in Kabul: Kabul residents say worsening water shortages are forcing families to wait hours or buy tanker water at high prices, deepening inequality across neighborhoods. Desert Migration Deaths: Authorities recovered 14 bodies of Afghan migrants who died while trying to reach Iran through Nimroz’s desert, where extreme heat and vehicle breakdowns turn irregular routes deadly. Protest Crackdown in Badakhshan: In Yaftal-e Payen, reports say Taliban forces opened fire on protesters after a woman was allegedly searched, with at least four deaths reported by the BBC; casualty figures remain unconfirmed. Polio Response: A new 10-day polio vaccination campaign is set to begin nationwide as Afghanistan reports fresh wild poliovirus cases, with oral vaccine plus other childhood immunizations. Regional Connectivity for Afghanistan: Uzbekistan’s regional vision highlights Afghanistan as a transit link for a “common development space,” while officials stress trade and transit ties with Central Asia. Environmental Angle on Governance: A wider “environmental security” watch notes how governance and stability shape disaster risk and public services, relevant as Afghanistan’s crises intensify.

Biodiversity & Plants: Turkmenistan is highlighted as a major biodiversity hotspot, home to 450+ endemic vascular plant species, with mountain microclimates (especially Kopetdag) driving unusually high endemism—an important reminder for regional conservation priorities. Public Health in Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s Polio Free Afghanistan initiative announced a new 10-day polio vaccination push as cases rise, pairing oral polio vaccine with other childhood immunizations; WHO previously confirmed new wild poliovirus infections in Nangarhar, Helmand and Herat. Floods & Climate Impacts: OCHA reports deadly recent floods and heavy rains in Afghanistan, with casualties and widespread damage—another sign that extreme weather is hitting homes and livelihoods hard. Water & Climate Youth Action: Kyrgyzstan is set to host a regional youth conference on water and climate justice (including delegates from Afghanistan), focusing on shared water security challenges from glacier melt and transboundary river stress. Human Rights & Return Risks: The UN warns that Afghans returning from neighboring countries face growing human trafficking and exploitation risks, driven by mass returns, reduced aid, climate disasters, and ongoing restrictions on women and girls.

Floods & Monsoon Impacts: OCHA reports recent floods and heavy rains in Afghanistan have killed people and damaged nearly 200 homes, underlining how extreme weather keeps hitting communities hard. Public Health & Vaccination: Afghanistan’s Polio Free Afghanistan initiative says a new 10-day polio vaccination campaign will start soon, with oral polio vaccine plus other childhood immunizations as new wild poliovirus cases continue to be detected. Return Risks & Human Trafficking: UN warns that Afghanistan returnees face rising human trafficking risks as crises deepen, pushing displacement pressures beyond borders. Rights Under Pressure: Amnesty International urges the EU to halt deportations of Afghans, saying forced returns are unsafe and may violate international law. Water & Climate Youth Action: Kyrgyzstan is set to host a regional youth conference on water security and climate justice, focusing on glacier melt, shrinking rivers, and transboundary water cooperation. Security Context: UNAMA mandate renewal discussions continue, while reports highlight ongoing instability and restrictions affecting daily life. Afghan Resources & Environment: Mining in northeastern Afghanistan is framed as a development promise versus plundered natural resources, keeping environmental concerns tied to governance and conflict.