The United Nations announced Tuesday (September 30) it is in urgent discussions with the Taliban to secure a waiver from a nationwide shutdown of internet and mobile phone services in Afghanistan, warning the blackout is severely hampering humanitarian efforts in the crisis-stricken country.

The shutdown, which began Monday (September 29), has crippled communications and is disrupting the delivery of critical aid, banking, and essential services. Speaking from Kabul, Indrika Ratwatte, the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, described the situation as “another crisis on top of the existing crises.”

"This is utterly unnecessary... and the impact is going to be on the lives of Afghan people," he told journalists in Geneva.

The blackout has left the UN in a "very dire situation," forcing it to scale back operations and rely on radios for essential communication. Ratwatte noted the disruption is affecting "critical medical services," supply chains, and vaccination programs. Furthermore, the shutdown has paralyzed banking and financial services, cutting off vital remittances from abroad and halting international flights.

Internet blackout effects on women education and livelihood 

The motive behind the sudden and sweeping blackout remains unclear, fueling uncertainty and concern among aid agencies. Ratwatte confirmed that the UN had not been given an official reason for the disruption, adding that even Taliban authorities were reportedly facing challenges communicating amongst themselves. While informal sources suggest the blackout might be short-lived, the lack of official communication from the government has compounded the crisis.

The shutdown exacerbates an already desperate humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, one of the world's poorest countries, which is reeling from decades of conflict, a severe drought, a recent earthquake, and the forced return of millions of Afghans from neighboring Pakistan and Iran. The UN is now attempting to increase its satellite bandwidth to maintain a lifeline of communication while it negotiates for an exemption to continue its life-saving work.

BOB Post