Six years since the Taleban fell, Afghanistan's main national road is not safe enough for aid convoys to reach those most in need in some parts of the country.
That is the grim picture painted by the United Nations, of deteriorating security, more suicide bombs and increasing attacks on humanitarian workers.
UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom Koenigs said 34 aid workers had been killed so far this year, 76 kidnapped and that 100 UN facilities or convoys had been robbed or looted.
"Security now prevents us from travelling large parts of the southern ring road and this is a matter of great concern," he told a news conference.
"Reaching the people is not a political issue, it is a humanitarian issue, and we must send the message that the attacks on aid missions must stop.
"We need local communities to help provide our staff and convoys safe passage."
Suicide attacks
Just a few hours before he spoke, another suicide bomber had struck in Lashkar Gah, in the south of the country.
Described by local police as being between 15 and 16 years old, the bomber had targeted Afghan traffic police, killing at least three people and injuring many more.
It was the 10th suicide bombing in Helmand province since the start of September and marks a change in tactics in one of the most violent parts of the country.
Things are so bad in the south that the UN World Food Programme's country director, Rick Corsino, said practically no food had reached western Afghanistan since June, because of the poor security on the road.
"Last year we had five attacks on WFP vehicles, but this year in 10 months we have already had 30," he said.
"We've lost 1,000 tonnes of food worth £750,000 (£364,000) and the cost of transport has gone up by 25% to 50% in the past 12 months, because of the risks."
But it is not just the southern areas where aid is struggling to get through and where security is deteriorating.
The UN security map shows more areas, closer to the capital, are now very dangerous or extremely risky.
The provinces surrounding Kabul have seen fighting between insurgents and both Afghan and international security forces.
And there have been more suicide attacks in the capital itself.
"I want to live somewhere where there are no suicide bombs and I can just work to feed my family and live in peace"
In the past few weeks, more than 100 people have been killed - the worst attacks were on buses transporting army and police officers.
Growing fear
Haiatulla was the driver of one of those buses on 29 September, but somehow he escaped without serious injury.
He is now recuperating at home, but is angry that the insurgents are killing and injuring local people.
He says the security situation has deteriorated in Kabul.
"I'd rather leave Kabul than stay here - I want to live somewhere where there are no suicide bombs and I can just work to feed my family and live in peace," he said.
And along the Jalalabad Road to the east of Kabul a shopkeeper explained to me how the last bomb blast against a military convoy had scattered debris close to his shop.
It is now the most dangerous stretch of road in the capital, as armoured vehicles belonging to contractors, international troops and the Afghan police are all targeted.
"People don't come to my shop any more as they are afraid to stop," he told me and there is a growing fear in the capital that more bombs could follow.
Some people even pulled their children out of a school close to the airport road - another place popular with suicide bombers.
The children have since returned, but it is an indication of the paranoia that is starting to affect Afghans in Kabul.
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