UN: No movement among member states to recognize IEA government

The United Nations says there is currently no indication that its member states are moving toward recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) as the country’s official government.

Responding to a question at a press briefing on Tuesday, UN Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said decisions on recognizing governments are made by individual states, not by the United Nations.

“Ultimately, those decisions on recognition are made by Governments, and we are not that,” Haq said. “Governments would determine who they recognize as the Government of Afghanistan. That has not been something that’s happened with the de facto authorities, and, as far as I’m aware, there’s no movement towards that among the Member States here.”

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that millions of Afghans continue to face severe humanitarian challenges despite improvements in the country’s overall security situation.

OCHA spokesperson Olga Cherevko said hunger, poverty and uncertainty continue to define daily life for millions of Afghans.

She noted that Afghanistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate shocks, pointing to the recent flash floods in Nuristan Province, where families lost relatives, homes and livelihoods.

“Families told me they had lost their loved ones, livelihoods and everything they owned,” Cherevko said, adding that humanitarian agencies quickly provided emergency shelter, food, healthcare, safe water, protection and psychosocial support.

Cherevko also said restrictions on women and girls continue to affect nearly every aspect of daily life, pushing women further out of public life and limiting access to education, livelihoods and services.

She warned that border hostilities and unexploded ordnance continue to pose serious risks to civilians, while child malnutrition has worsened in many parts of the country.

“Prevention is critical, but growing funding and supply gaps, along with other existing risks, are putting even more lives at risk,” she said.

Cherevko stressed that humanitarian organizations will continue to assist vulnerable communities but emphasized that emergency aid alone cannot address Afghanistan’s long-term challenges.