Nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power, Afghanistan is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with hunger, poverty and restrictions on women continuing to shape daily life.

Australia’s Minister for International Development and Multicultural Affairs, Anne Aly, has acknowledged the scale of the challenges facing Afghans and defended Australia’s continued humanitarian assistance to the country.

The crisis comes as international organisations warn that millions of Afghans remain dependent on humanitarian support. Years of economic instability, reduced international funding and restrictions imposed by the Taliban have placed additional pressure on families already struggling to meet basic needs.

Women and girls face some of the most severe consequences. Since the Taliban takeover, restrictions have dramatically reduced women’s access to education, employment and public life. Human rights advocates have increasingly called on countries including Australia to recognise the treatment of Afghan women as a form of gender apartheid under international law.

For Australia, the challenge extends beyond humanitarian aid. The country has a significant Afghan-Australian community, many of whom continue to have family and personal connections to Afghanistan.

Aly said Australia remained committed to supporting vulnerable Afghans while working with international partners to deliver assistance. The government has also faced questions over whether its response is sufficient as conditions deteriorate.

The situation is particularly difficult as international attention shifts to other global conflicts and crises, potentially reducing funding available for Afghanistan.

Aid agencies have warned that maintaining humanitarian assistance is essential to preventing further deterioration in food security and living conditions.

The debate also highlights a broader question for Australia: how should governments respond when humanitarian needs are growing while political and diplomatic options remain limited?

For Afghan communities in Australia, the crisis is not distant. It continues to affect families, relatives and communities connected across borders, keeping Afghanistan firmly on the Australian humanitarian agenda.