Restrictions on female humanitarian workers and other operational challenges continued to affect aid delivery in Afghanistan in September, during which humanitarian organizations reported 30 access-related incidents across the country, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.

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“A total of 30 humanitarian access incidents were reported by humanitarian partners across Afghanistan in September, representing a 27% decrease compared to August,” OCHA stated on Sunday in its Afghanistan Humanitarian Access Snapshot for September 2026, published on its X account.

The UN agency noted that the lower number of reported incidents does not indicate an improvement in the humanitarian access environment, as underreporting remains a challenge.

“The access environment continued to be predominantly affected by interference and restrictions on women’s participation in humanitarian operations,” OCHA indicated in its Afghanistan Humanitarian Access Snapshot for September 2026, published on its X account.

Restrictions on women humanitarian workers & other operational challenges continue to affect aid delivery. In September, humanitarian partners reported 30 access-related incidents across Afghanistan. Humanitarian access must be protected.

Find out more⬇️https://t.co/0mZtuvpjN1 pic.twitter.com/isdTRlyF1n

— OCHA Afghanistan (@OCHAAfg) October 25, 2026

According to the report, interference in humanitarian activities accounted for 18 of the 30 incidents, making it the primary access constraint. Four incidents were related to the physical environment, while other cases involved military operations and ongoing hostilities, violence against humanitarian personnel, and the detention of workers.

Another incident was related to delays in signing a memorandum of understanding and the denial of humanitarian needs or rights by de facto authorities.

The report also highlighted the worsening access conditions in western Afghanistan, where the Taliban government’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice increased its visits to humanitarian organizations.

“These included increased visits by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice to humanitarian actors, including project sites and offices, further limiting operations,” OCHA specified.

OCHA noted that restrictions on women’s participation particularly undermine assistance to women and girls.

Around 90% of organizations surveyed in September reported challenges for women and girls’ access to services in the western region. Restrictions imposed since March 2025 also “led to the closure, suspension, reduction of scope, or prevented the initiation of 26 out of 139 surveyed projects, i.e., 19%.”

Of the 30 nationwide incidents, seven involved gender-related dynamics, and one humanitarian worker was arrested. OCHA warned that physical access limitations had increased and could worsen as winter approaches.

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