After the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and significant political changes, many media outlets in the city of Kabul have been shut down due to economic problems. Journalists, especially female journalists, are facing unemployment, insufficient resources, and meagre income. Many have been forced to leave their jobs, while others struggle with severe economic challenges.

Female journalists state that after the upheavals and the loss of financial support for their media outlets, they were compelled to either leave their duties or continue working with reduced income. The high workload combined with low pay or irregular payment has demotivated them, ultimately leading many journalists to quit their jobs.

Zahra, Hasna, and Latifa, among the female journalists, have been unemployed due to the poor economic conditions of their media outlets over the past year. They express distress both economically and mentally, with no improvement in job opportunities.

Zahra says, “Finding a job in the current situation is the hardest task, and people’s economic situation is also dire. Since I lost my job, my living conditions have deteriorated, and I can’t meet life’s necessities.”

Hasna also reveals that she was the sole breadwinner of her household and is now struggling with serious economic challenges. She told the Khaama press, “I used to be the breadwinner of my family, but since I became unemployed, problems have been increasing day by day. We are eight in the family, and my father, being old, cannot work.”

Similarly, due to economic challenges, Latifa had to quit her job as a journalist and is now grappling with uncertainty about managing her living expenses.

She told Khaama Press, “The media outlet I worked for couldn’t afford to pay its employees, so I had to leave my job. I’ve been desperately looking for work but to no avail. Our family is facing economic problems, and with each change in our lifestyle, things get more difficult, and we’re bewildered about what to do.”

These unemployed female journalists appeal to the authorities of the Taliban and relief agencies to pay serious attention to the situation of women and create job opportunities for female journalists.

Sara and Rabia are among the women who, due to the poor economic situation of their media outlet, have been forced to choose between three options: accepting a meagre income, working without pay, or resigning from their duties.

Sara says, “For a year and two months, I’ve worked in a media outlet without receiving any salary or compensation. The distance from my home to work is considerable. I work diligently from early morning until late at night, yet the office doesn’t even provide transportation fare. This situation will force me to quit my job.”

Similarly, Rabia preferred staying unemployed at home over the overwhelming workload with no compensation. She told Khaama press, “For several months, we haven’t received any pay or compensation. Our family is economically weak. If this situation persists, I might be forced to resign. The workload is immense, but the income is minimal.”

Meanwhile, authorities in some media outlets affected by the recent political changes in the country state that budget constraints and economic disparities have led to the dismissal of many employees.

Jafar Panahi, the managing director and owner of Afghan News Agency, says, “Media outlets have undoubtedly been affected by the events of the past two years. Today, the biggest challenge is economic. The lack of attention from the global community has created numerous problems for media outlets. If there’s no plan to fund media outlets, their capacities will diminish, and the voice of the people will not be properly represented.”

Esmatullah Halem, the official at Radio Chinarr in Kabul, says that with the minimal revenue they generate from commercial advertisements, they cannot support many journalists in their outlets.

He told the press, “We don’t receive any assistance or funding from foreign countries, and all our revenue comes from commercial advertisements and sponsored programs, which we have currently lost. Therefore, we need to reduce our staff.”

Simultaneously, the Nei organization, a supporter of independent media in Afghanistan, states that currently, more than 431 journalists and media personnel are employed in Kabul, whereas during the previous government, there were nearly 5,000 female journalists and employees across Afghanistan.

Zarif Karimi, an official from the Nei organization, said, “Currently, in Kabul, we have approximately 431 female journalists and media personnel. The majority of female journalists work in television channels such as Ariana, Tolo, Tolo News, Lemar, Tamadon, Radio Azadi, Salaam Watandar, Radio Kilid, and others. Radio Bigem and Salaam Watandar are entirely managed by women and have around 35 to 40 female employees and journalists.”

Karimi added that some women in certain media outlets are also working without pay. According to him, “In TV channels such as Rah-e-Farda and some agencies, other female journalists are working without any compensation. In Tamadon TV, Noor TV, and Shamshad TV, women work for the lowest wages.”

The challenging economic situation of media outlets and the decrease in employees’ salaries or non-payment of salaries have not only demotivated journalists but also negatively impacted the quality of media work.

US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that Afghanistan’s foreign reserves would continue to be frozen beyond February 11. This decision stems from Biden’s initial executive order issued on February 11, 2022, addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and its associated threats.

The original executive order, issued by Biden on February 11, 2022, highlighted the urgent needs of the Afghan people, including food security, livelihood support, and essential health services. The order emphasized the extraordinary threat posed to US national security and foreign policy by the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.

In a statement posted to the White House website, President Biden underscored the importance of preserving certain assets held by the Afghanistan Central Bank (DAB) in the United States. These assets, he noted, are vital for addressing the national emergency and ensuring the welfare of the Afghan people.

President Biden acknowledged that various parties, including victims of terrorism, have laid legal claims to certain assets of DAB. Consequently, these assets remain blocked in accordance with his executive order, reflecting the complex legal and humanitarian considerations at play.

Despite repeated appeals from Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, for the release of frozen assets, the US has maintained its stance. Muttaqi reiterated this request at the “Afghanistan Regional Cooperation Initiative” meeting in Kabul, emphasizing the importance of returning the assets to DAB.

Following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, the US froze over $9.5 billion of Afghanistan’s assets, with approximately $7 billion held in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. Subsequently, a portion of these funds, $3.5 billion, was transferred to a special fund in Switzerland, while the remainder remains under US control.

The freeze on Afghanistan’s foreign reserves underscores the complexities of managing humanitarian crises within the framework of international law and diplomacy. As Afghanistan grapples with multifaceted challenges, including political instability and economic turmoil, the fate of its frozen assets remains a contentious issue on the global stage.

UN Announces Extension of Refugee Cards for Registered Afghan Migrants in Pakistan Until the End of March.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has announced that the Pakistani government has extended the refugee cards for registered Afghan immigrants until the 31^st of March 2024.

Confirming this decision, the agency released a picture of the Pakistani government’s decree on its official page on Wednesday, February 7^th.

Additionally, Khyber News Pakistan has reported that the interim government of Pakistan, based on the proposal of the Ministry of Border Affairs, has extended the stay of 1.3 million Afghan immigrants for another two months.

Human rights organizations and refugee agencies have consistently expressed concerns about the situation of migrants expelled from Pakistan and Iran.

It is noteworthy that the World Food Program has recently declared that approximately half a million expelled Afghan migrants from Pakistan are in urgent need of assistance and are economically vulnerable.

According to reports, since the start of the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, more than 500,000 individuals have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan.

Amidst security turmoil and economic crisis in the country, which has led to the expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has announced an extension of refugee cards for registered Afghan immigrants for another two months.

The decision to extend refugee cards for Afghan immigrants is a response to the security turmoil and economic crisis in Pakistan, which has resulted in the expulsion of Afghan refugees from the country.

The political landscape in Pakistan is closely intertwined with the situation of Afghan refugees, as political debates often include discussions on refugee policies and their impact on the country’s security and economy.

Security measures during elections are crucial not only for the safety of Pakistani citizens but also for Afghan refugees residing in the country, as political stability impacts their lives and prospects.

The World Food Program asserts that nearly half a million expelled Afghan migrants from Pakistan are in dire need of immediate food assistance.

In a post on the X network on Tuesday, the organization stated that expelled migrants from Pakistan lack economic support and face difficulties starting anew in Afghanistan.

The World Food Program further adds that returning migrants from Pakistan are experiencing hunger and resorting to borrowing from others to sustain their livelihoods.

Previously, the World Health Organization declared in a report about expelled migrants from Pakistan that 24% of these migrants are children under the age of five, and 48% are women.

Following the decision of the interim government of Pakistan to expel migrants without legal documentation from the country, hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants have left Pakistan, both forcibly and voluntarily.

The expulsion has left these migrants in a vulnerable position, without means to sustain themselves or their families, prompting urgent calls for humanitarian aid and support.

The situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Afghan migrants, both in Pakistan and upon their return to Afghanistan, highlighting the need for coordinated international efforts to address their plight.

As efforts continue to assist these vulnerable populations, urgent action is required to ensure their basic needs are met and to support their reintegration into society.