Afghanistan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (November 2024)

In November 2024, humanitarian partners faced heightened access challenges, with a notable increase in both the number and impact of reported incidents, particularly in terms of activity suspensions. A total of 164 access incidents were documented, representing an 11% increase compared to the same period last year and a 56% increase compared to the previous month. The De-facto Authorities (DfA) were responsible for 99% of these incidents, which were concentrated in the Southern, Central Highlands, Western, and Central regions (67% collectively). These constraints led to the temporary suspension of 72 projects, the temporary closure of one facility, and the permanent halt of two projects.

The main reason for these access constraints was interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities. In November, 145 incidents of interference were reported, compared to 83 incidents in the previous month that partners reported. These incidents included ‘interference with programming (60 incidents)’, requests for ‘staff lists and sensitive data (37 incidents)’, ‘interference with staff recruitment (16 incidents)’, ‘restriction on women humanitarian workers (10 incidents)’, ‘interference with procurement (9 incidents)’, ‘prevention of women to use services and goods (6 incidents)’, ‘delays in signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) (4 incidents)’, ‘interference or attempted interference in beneficiary selection (2 incidents)’ and aid confiscation ( one incident)’. As a consequence of these incidents, 64 projects had to be temporarily suspended, and 50 projects remained suspended as of December.

Violence against humanitarian personnel, assets, and facilities witnessed a 37 per cent increase, with 13 incidents reported compared with 8 incidents in the previous month. This has resulted in the arrests and detention of 6 staff, two physical attacks or violence against humanitarian workers, four threats against humanitarian workers, assets, and facilities, and the forced closure of 2 facilities or assets. These incidents have continued to impact the operational environment, where the safety and security of humanitarian staff are at risk.

Furthermore, movement restrictions within the country have posed an access constraint to humanitarian response delivery, with five incidents reported in November, including incidents at the checkpoints (3 incidents), Mahram required for movement of women staff (1 incident), and dress code (1 incident).

In 2024, the DfA issued 124 directives that significantly impacted the humanitarian response in Afghanistan. In November alone, 15 directives were issued in various regions, including the Southern, Southeastern, Northeastern, and Central Highlands. The majority of these directives were aimed at reinforcing existing procedures. The issuing authorities primarily included
Ministry / Department of Economy (six directives), Ministry/ Department of Education ( two directives), The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (two directives), and one directive each from the Department of Public Health, Department of Police, Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Directorate of Pursuing Supreme Leader’s Directives, Department of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs, and Disabled.