WFP needs $760 million for food aid in Afghanistan

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The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a dire need for $760 million in food assistance for Afghanistan over the next six months, amid growing international concerns about widespread poverty in the country.

In a recent post on X, the organization stated that millions of people in Afghanistan are suffering from severe hunger, with over half of the estimated 43 million population forced to reduce their food intake.

Findings from the World Food Programme indicate that at least 16 million people in Afghanistan experience daily concerns about having enough food.

Afghanistan faces one of the most serious humanitarian crises globally, a crisis that is typically exacerbated during winter due to road closures.

Forced deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, such as Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, has intensified, with more than half a million Afghans deported by Pakistani officials since October 2023, despite harsh winter conditions.

Many of the returnees are confronted with numerous challenges, including inadequate access to water, shelter, and medical care, along with a scarcity of job opportunities and an uncertain future.

Furthermore, the severe earthquake that struck Herat province in October last year further exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children, who faced heightened levels of malnutrition.

However, the officials in the Ministry of Economy say that they do not agree with the statistics published by foreign organizations. The ministry has also said that the international community should stop worrying about Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation and instead lift banking sanctions and release the country’s frozen assets.

Economic experts consider the continuation of international aid to the people of Afghanistan to be effective and say that this aid should continue until the country’s economic situation improves.

According to them, when the international community starts working on development projects, the process of poverty alleviation will be accelerated.

The World Food Program warned last year that Afghanistan is at the highest risk of famine and needs $800 million dollars.

WFP needs $760 million for food aid in Afghanistan
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Afghanistan’s maternal mortality and safe childbirth crisis

Amid worries about the risks faced by pregnant women in Afghanistan, the United Nations has set up family health houses to make sure women have safe childbirth. However, experts believe that the healthcare infrastructure in Afghanistan is not capable of ensuring safe childbirth for women.

Women in Afghanistan are exposed to irreparable harms, and among them, pregnant women bear the greatest cost for the current situation. General reports on the status of mothers in Afghanistan indicate that this country has allocated the highest maternal mortality rate among Asian countries.

The United Nations Population Fund announced in March 2022 that out of every 100,000 births in Afghanistan, 638 mothers lose their lives during childbirth, a figure unseen in any other Asian country. The organization stated in its report on the occasion of International Women’s Day that $250 million is needed to address the situation of pregnant women in Afghanistan.

It is still unclear whether this requested amount has been provided by donor countries to the United Nations or not, but Afghanistan still holds the highest maternal mortality rate among Asian countries. The continuation of this situation has led to widespread concerns, and public discussions indicate that women’s lack of access to healthcare facilities is one of the most serious concerns in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently announced the establishment of 25 family health houses in Uruzgan province, stating that “quality healthcare services for pregnant women can ensure safe childbirth.”

This office wrote on its social platform X, Monday, February 26, that with the financial assistance of the European Union, these family health units have been established to ensure that women have access to skilled care.

Social issues experts believe that the healthcare system in Afghanistan lacks the necessary infrastructure to support pregnant women because, according to their estimate, most doctors and healthcare workers have left Afghanistan, and alongside this, people are grappling with a severe food crisis.

A public health professor who also has experience in dealing with public health crises, on the condition of anonymity, told Khaama Press that these two factors (the exodus of healthcare workers and poverty) have paralyzed the healthcare system in Afghanistan.

He argues that establishing family health units may help women in some villages, but Afghanistan has more than 400 districts, with hundreds of villages registered in each district, stating, “If all pregnant women in Afghanistan are supposed to be covered by UN support, thousands of family health units must be established.”

This university professor criticizes the performance of the Taliban administration and the United Nations regarding support for pregnant women, suggesting that more effective strategies need to be pursued. He proposes that the enrollment of girls in medical fields should be increased, and the United Nations should concentrate its support programs on educating girls in healthcare sectors in all provinces of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s maternal mortality and safe childbirth crisis
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Iran’s water share from Helmand River still pending: Iranian official

The deputy of Iran’s Environmental Organization states that despite negotiations with the Taliban, Iran’s water share has not been allocated yet.

Mojtaba Zoljoodi said, “Unfortunately, not only is the environmental share not provided, but also the people’s drinking water share has not been secured. In these circumstances, diplomatic actions are needed.”

He emphasized in an interview with ISNA news agency that the water share should come from Hilmand into Iran.

Mr. Zoljoodi says that pursuing Iran’s water share from Afghanistan is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic, ordered by President Ebrahim Raisi.

The deputy of Iran’s Environmental Organization added, “In a meeting with the Taliban, they promised that if there is adequate rainfall and proper water storage in the dams, Iran’s water share will be released.”

According to him, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister of the Taliban, promised during his last visit to Iran that the water share would be provided.

He also mentioned that the Iranian government has utilized all its efforts to solve the water share issue.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic official said that the Taliban authorities had promised to reopen the Kamal Khan Dam in times of abundance, but they have not yet fulfilled this promise.

However, Afghan experts argue that Iran’s demands exceed those outlined in the 1972 accord. Additionally, with the water levels decreasing, Iranian officials’ requests for additional water from the Helmand River are seen as increasingly unreasonable.

The diminishing water levels have rendered Iranian officials’ appeals for extra water from the Helmand River largely inconsequential, a point emphasized by Afghan experts who maintain that Iran’s demands surpass the terms established in the 1972 agreement.

The agreement grants Iran 820 million cubic meters of water annually under normal conditions. Yet, experts claim Iran consistently receives double its allotted share from the Helmand River.

Iran’s water share from Helmand River still pending: Iranian official
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Stanikzai: Education Opportunities in Country Must Increase

He continued to say that most of the country’s books are printed outside of Afghanistan, and more should be printed domestically.

The deputy foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai, said that the educational and higher education institutions of the Islamic Emirate must provide better opportunities for the education of youth in the country. 

Speaking at a book-publishing event, which included the publishing of the Holy Quran, organized by the Ministry of Information and Culture, Stanikzai called the lack of libraries one of the serious challenges the country is facing.

Stanikzai said: “The Islamic Emirate authorities who are responsible, especially the Ministries of Information and Culture, Education and Higher Education, should try to provide a study environment for their people and for their students, so that they can have a book in any section they want to study without any kind of controversy.”

Meanwhile, Hayatullah Muhajir Farahi, the deputy minister of information and culture for publications, said there is a cultural need for books.

Muhajir Farahi said: “The history and past values of a country are kept in a book, and the books record the performance and history of a generation for the future generation.”

The deputy foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate also mentioned the role of youth in the development and progress of the society and emphasized that the youth should study more and be interested in study and research.

Stanikzai: Education Opportunities in Country Must Increase
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Iran’s Qomi Asks Afghan Immigrants to Return to Their Country

The Iranian ambassador and special representative to Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, asked Afghan immigrants to return to their country.

In an interview with Iranian media, Qomi asked Afghan immigrants to contribute to the economic growth of Afghanistan by returning to their country.

Referring to the US’s presence in Afghanistan, he said that the Afghan migration crisis was caused by the United States’s approach in Afghanistan.

“We have more than six million Afghan brothers and sisters here,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that the forced deportation and detention of immigrants by some countries had led to a strain in the relations between the countries.

Mujahid asked all host countries to treat Afghan immigrants in accordance with international laws.

“What creates mistrust between the two nations is when migrants are mistreated, detained or forcibly deported. In this regard, we want Iran’s interaction, that they should maintain the normal situation and not use pressure against the immigrants,” the spokesman said.

“The host countries of Afghan migrants, especially neighboring countries and Turkey, have adopted strict policies towards migrants,” said Mohammad Khan Talebi, an expert on migrant affairs.

Some Afghan immigrants living in Iran criticized the bad treatment of Afghan immigrants by Iranian police.

“Afghan immigrants are oppressed by the Iranian police; They are treated in a way that not even animals are treated,” said Akbar, an Afghan immigrant in Iran.

“Most immigrants in Iran are facing unemployment, and those immigrants who do not have legal documents to live in Iran are deprived of citizenship rights such as owning a house, going to school, and traveling freely,” said Mirwais, another Afghan immigrant in Iran.

According to data from the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, in a single day, more than 1,500 immigrants from the Islam Qala border were forcefully and voluntarily sent back to their country.

Iran’s Qomi Asks Afghan Immigrants to Return to Their Country
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UNSC Discussing Proposed UN Envoy for Afghanistan

The Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is expected to brief the council.

The United Nations Security Council private meeting on Afghanistan is expected to discuss the appointment of a UN special representative for the country.

In the meeting, the joint statement of eleven countries including US, UK, France, Japan and Switzerland on Afghanistan will also be read.

“The meeting is being held in accordance with resolution 2721 of 29 December 2023, which, among other matters, requested the Secretary-General to appoint a Special Envoy for Afghanistan in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, welcomed the Secretary-General’s intention to convene the second meeting of the group of Special Envoys and Special Representatives on Afghanistan, and requested the Secretary-General to brief the Council within 60 days on the outcome of these consultations and discussions,” reads the report of Security Council.

“The UN secretary-general is expected to present to the members of the council a detailed report of talks and discussion of the Doha meeting about Afghanistan,” said Wais Naseri, a political analyst.

The Islamic Emirate said the second Doha meeting on Afghanistan did not result in any conclusions, but added that the presence of Russia and China in the security council will help the meeting be beneficial.

“The decisions that are taken about Afghanistan, the interests of Afghan people should be protected in those. The decisions which are taken against the will of the Afghan people and imposed on them will not have any conclusion. We still wait and the meeting will be beneficial in the UNSC, there are some countries which have good relations with us,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate.

“The UN should not be a victim of compromise with some specific countries. In the Afghanistan issue, the UN … efforts have not been beneficial for Afghanistan. We hope that serious efforts will be made on Afghanistan following the UNSC meeting,” said Sayed Qaribullah Sadat, a political analyst.

Earlier, the UNSC in a resolution asked the UN chief to appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan to implement the recommendations of UN special coordinator’s independent assessment on the situation of Afghanistan.

The UN secretary-general convened a meeting of special representatives and envoys for Afghanistan on February 18-19 in which the special envoy for the country was not appointed.

UNSC Discussing Proposed UN Envoy for Afghanistan
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The Taliban release an 84-year-old Austrian man who was detained in Afghanistan last year

BY STEPHANIE LIECHTENSTEIN
Associated Press
February 25, 2024

VIENNA (AP) — An 84-year-old Austrian man who traveled to Afghanistan last year and was arrested there was released by the country’s Taliban rulers, the Austrian government said Sunday.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry in a statement identified the man as Herbert Fritz and said he arrived in Doha, Qatar from Afghanistan on Sunday afternoon. If necessary, he will be given medical treatment before continuing on to Austria, it said.

A spokeswoman for the Austrian Foreign Ministry told the Associated Press that Fritz had been held in a prison in Kabul. He was not immediately available for comment.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer thanked the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his team for their “strong support in releasing one of our citizens from prison in Afghanistan.”

“It is only due to our trusted collaboration that this Austrian citizen will be able to return home to his daughter and grandchildren,” Nehammer said.

Qatar’s Foreign Affairs ministry released a statement on X expressing gratitude to the “caretaker government in Afghanistan” for releasing the Austrian.

“The State of Qatar has proven, regionally and globally, that it is a trusted international partner in various important issues, and it spares no effort in harnessing its energy and ability in the areas of mediation, preventive diplomacy, and settling disputes through peaceful means … ,” it said.

Austrian newspaper Der Standard reported last year that an Austrian man had been arrested in Afghanistan and that he was a veteran far-right extremist and co-founder of a minor far-right party that was banned in 1988, the National Democratic Party.

It said he had been in custody for a few weeks, since shortly after a far-right magazine published an article he wrote titled “Vacation with the Taliban” in which he gave a positive view of life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. According to the report, he was accused of spying and Austrian neo-Nazis made his case public via Telegram channels.

The Taliban have barred women from most areas of public life and stopped girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade as part of harsh measures they imposed after taking control of the country in 2021, despite initially promising more moderate rule. The Taliban seized Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.

According to Der Standard, the Austrian has been a keen traveler to dangerous locations, visiting Afghanistan in the 1980s and, a few years ago, visiting Kurds fighting against the Islamic State group in northern Syria.

Austrian officials said Fritz arrived in Afghanistan last May.

___

Associated Press writer Yesica Fisch in Jerusalem contributed.

 

The Taliban release an 84-year-old Austrian man who was detained in Afghanistan last year
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IEA Escalates Border Dispute with Pakistan, Rejects Durand Line’s Legitimacy in Fiery Retort

In a sharp rebuttal that reignites the longstanding debate over the contentious Durand Line, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, has categorically dismissed Pakistani claims to the historic boundary. Speaking to TOLOnews, Stanikzai emphasized that the Durand Line, a product of British colonial legacy, holds no legitimacy in the eyes of the Afghan government.

Stanikzai’s remarks came as a direct response to Pakistani officials’ assertions regarding the Durand Line, which has been a focal point of diplomatic friction between the two nations. “The Durand Line is an imaginary line, and there is no issue between Pakistan and us in this respect,” Stanikzai stated, highlighting the colonial origins of the dispute. He refuted the Pakistani stance by pointing out that the agreement to draw the Durand Line was made between the British and Amir Abdul Rahman Khan, not involving what is now Pakistan, as the country did not exist at the time.

The Deputy Foreign Minister went further to underscore the historical context, noting, “Pakistan did not exist when Durand’s imaginary line was drawn. Fifty years later, Pakistan was established. Pakistan is younger than the Durand Line.” This perspective not only challenges the current geopolitical narrative but also delves into the colonial past, questioning the very foundation upon which the border dispute rests.

The discourse around the Durand Line, according to political analysts like Fahim Chakari, requires international intervention. Chakari suggests that the United Nations should step in to facilitate a resolution that genuinely reflects the will of the people on both sides of the line. This call for a democratic approach to solving the border issue highlights the complexities surrounding territorial disputes inherited from colonial rule.

The Afghan stance contrasts starkly with that of Anwar ul-Haq Kakar, the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s caretaker government, who in a special interview with TOLOnews, claimed the Durand Line as an “internationally recognized border” between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This claim by Pakistan’s highest office not only asserts the line’s legitimacy but also represents an attempt to solidify its status amidst ongoing disputes.

The Durand Line, stretching over 2,400 kilometers, has been a contentious issue since its inception in 1893, dividing ethnic Pashtun territories and disrupting traditional nomadic routes. The disagreement over this boundary has fueled tensions, leading to recurring diplomatic clashes and complicating the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As officials from Afghanistan’s de facto authorities once again challenge Pakistan’s assertions, the Durand Line remains a symbol of colonial imposition and a reminder of the unresolved issues that continue to plague South Asian geopolitics. The international community’s role, particularly that of entities like the United Nations, could prove crucial in navigating towards a peaceful and mutually acceptable resolution.

This latest exchange not only highlights the enduring legacy of colonial borders in shaping modern state relations but also underscores the importance of dialogue, understanding, and international cooperation in addressing the remnants of a divided past. As Kabul and Islamabad navigate these turbulent waters, the path forward remains uncertain, with historical grievances and national pride at the forefront of this geopolitical standoff.

IEA Escalates Border Dispute with Pakistan, Rejects Durand Line’s Legitimacy in Fiery Retort
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Over 18,000 SIVs approved for Afghan allies last year: US State Department

The spokesperson for the US State Department told media outlets that last year the US government approved more than 18,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghans who worked with the US.

He said that this figure represents the highest number of SIVs issued in a year.

The spokesperson for the State Department once again asked the US Congress to approve the residency plan for Afghans who worked with the United States in that country.

CNN reported earlier this month, that nearly 80,000 former local employees of the United States in Afghanistan, eligible for Special Immigrant Visas, are awaiting evacuation in Afghanistan and neighboring countries.

Among these individuals, tens of thousands have recently initiated the process of requesting their visas, as highlighted in the CNN report.

As of the eighth month of the year, only 10,800 applicants for Special Immigrant Visas have received leadership approval for evacuation, while the cases of 67,000 others are still pending approval, according to CNN’s Wednesday report.

Additionally, tens of thousands of former American colleagues and employees in Afghanistan have begun the visa request process, amplifying the urgency of the situation following the Taliban’s takeover.

One Afghan engineer, who worked with Americans, shared his experience of fleeing to Pakistan with his family after the fall of Afghanistan, waiting for over a year for approval of their Special Immigrant Visa application, citing the slow and time-consuming process.

He outlined the six essential documents required for the application, emphasizing the increasing delay in visa approval, which now exceeds a year compared to the earlier three-month timeline.

Over 18,000 SIVs approved for Afghan allies last year: US State Department
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Xiaoyong: Beijing Ready to Enhance Engagement with Afghanistan

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said China is a friendly country.

China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, said that Beijing is ready to further work with the UN and regional partners to enhance engagement with Afghanistan.

Xiaoyong said on X that China in the Doha meeting called for more humanitarian assistance, moderate governance, women and girls’ education, and that the US take major responsibility for Afghanistan’s reconstruction, release Afghan overseas assets, and lift unilateral sanctions.

“China stressed that we are ready to further & harder work with UN & regional partners especially Afghanistan Neighboring Countries FM Meeting and other platforms to enhance engagement with Afghanistan to help for its peace, stability, reconstruction and common prosperity,” Yue Xiaoyong said.

“Talking about the Doha meeting’s failure either means that this meeting was not properly understood, or it means the use of the vacuum of legal government to swallow Afghanistan,” said Sayed Javad Sajadi, a political analyst.

The US Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights, Rina Amiri, regarding the Doha meeting on Afghanistan, said: “The meeting reinforced that the international community remains largely united and committed to supporting the Afghan people and their struggle for economic stability, security and respect for their rights, particularly addressing the plight of Afghan women and girls.”

“Afghan civil society representatives remained unified in their calls on the int. community to factor in the dire situation of Afghan women when assessing the security situation in Afghanistan and the importance of including Afghan women and civil society in deliberations on Afghanistan,” she wrote on X.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said China is a friendly country and that the current Afghan government wants good relations with all countries.

“China and Afghanistan have good diplomatic, commercial, and economic relations. We still seek good ties with other nations, and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has fulfilled its obligations and taken the required steps in support of the country’s national interests in this respect, Mujahid told TOLOnews.

The Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, also said that at the Doha meeting on Afghanistan, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres covered the areas of concern, including that Afghanistan does not become a ‘hotbed’ of terrorist activity.

However, the Islamic Emirate has consistently said that Afghanistan is free of terrorist groups.

Xiaoyong: Beijing Ready to Enhance Engagement with Afghanistan
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