KABUL, September 1, 2026 — More than four decades of war have left a deep and lasting mark on Afghan society, with victims continuing to live with physical injuries, psychological trauma, economic hardship and a lack of access to justice, according to a new United Nations report.
The report, published by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), documents the experiences of nearly 200 victims of armed conflict and their relatives. It examines the impact of Afghanistan’s conflict during the period leading up to the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Afghanistan has endured more than 40 years of continuous warfare, resulting in widespread civilian deaths, displacement, destruction of homes and livelihoods, and profound social disruption.
Between 2009 and 2021, UNAMA documented more than 40,000 civilians killed and over 77,000 wounded in the conflict.
But the human cost extends far beyond the casualty figures.
For many survivors, the consequences of war have continued long after the fighting ended.
A Trauma That Has Not Ended
The UN report found that 95 per cent of those interviewed experienced emotional or psychological harm.
Victims described depression, anxiety, memory loss, flashbacks and other symptoms associated with trauma.
For many, these experiences have become a permanent part of everyday life.
Nearly 60 per cent of those interviewed also reported physical harm, with injuries continuing to affect them months, years or even decades after the incidents that caused them.
Some survivors are living with chronic pain or disabilities but struggle to obtain treatment because of financial difficulties and limited access to healthcare.
The consequences frequently extend to entire families.
In some cases, injuries prevented victims from continuing their education or employment, resulting in lost income and worsening financial insecurity. Family members have sometimes been forced to abandon work or education to care for injured relatives.
For women who lost their husbands during the conflict, the economic consequences can be particularly severe. Restrictions imposed by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities have further limited opportunities for women to work and support their families.
Victims Still Waiting for Justice
For many Afghans, the suffering has been compounded by the absence of meaningful accountability.
More than half of the people interviewed — 55 per cent — said they had never attempted to seek compensation or other forms of redress.
The reasons included a belief that their complaints would not be taken seriously, as well as fear of retaliation.
Among those who did seek assistance or compensation, 64 per cent said their efforts were unsuccessful.
They described bureaucratic barriers, a lack of official response, perceived discrimination and limited transparency when dealing with authorities or institutions.
The findings point to a wider problem: for many victims, the end of active conflict has not meant the end of their struggle.
They continue to face the consequences of violence without adequate recognition, compensation or institutional support.
What Afghan Victims Say They Need
When asked about their most urgent needs, victims identified several priorities.
Financial compensation was cited by 81 per cent of those interviewed, followed by access to justice at 48 per cent and personal security guarantees at 47 per cent.
The figures highlight how closely the consequences of conflict are connected.
For survivors, justice is not simply about accountability. It is also about rebuilding lives damaged by injury, displacement, loss of income and years of insecurity.
Recognition of their suffering is another important part of that process.
‘Depth and Breadth’ of Collective Trauma
Georgette Gagnon, a UNAMA official, said the interviews demonstrated how deeply the consequences of Afghanistan's long conflict remain embedded in society.
“The interviews we conducted highlight the depth and breadth of collective trauma that continues within Afghan society.”
She said addressing victims' needs requires acknowledgement of the harm they have suffered and a genuine commitment to ensuring that victims' voices and rights remain at the centre of the response.
The UN's findings suggest that the legacy of Afghanistan's war cannot be measured only by the number of people killed or wounded.
It is also reflected in the families who lost their main earners, children whose education was interrupted, survivors living with permanent disabilities and communities struggling to recover from repeated displacement and violence.
Beyond the Battlefield
Afghanistan's experience illustrates a broader reality of prolonged conflict: war can continue to shape people's lives long after the guns fall silent.
Physical wounds may remain untreated. Psychological trauma can persist for decades. Lost education and employment can affect families across generations. And when victims cannot obtain justice or recognition, the consequences of conflict can become deeply entrenched within society.
For Afghanistan, the challenge is therefore not only to address today's humanitarian and economic pressures but also to confront the long-term legacy of decades of violence.
The UN report makes clear that victims themselves must be central to that process.
Their stories provide a human measure of a conflict whose consequences extend far beyond the battlefield — into homes, families, schools, workplaces and the psychological lives of an entire society.
