UN Security Council to Renew UNAMA Mandate

The Security Council has also expressed concern over human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women and girls.

The United Nations Security Council has reported that it is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

UNAMA’s current mandate expires on 17 March.

The report also added that a quarterly meeting on Afghanistan will be held, but it did not provide exact details about the date.

The Security Council has also expressed concern about humanitarian crises and stated that Afghanistan continues to grapple with one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.

The report states: “22.9 million Afghans will require humanitarian assistance this year, including 21 million lacking adequate water and sanitation, 14.8 million facing acute food insecurity, 14.3 million experiencing limited access to healthcare, and 7.8 million women and children requiring nutrition assistance.”

The Security Council, in its report, claimed that efforts to address the humanitarian crisis have been impacted by the policies and practices of the Islamic Emirate—a claim that the Islamic Emirate has consistently denied.

The Security Council has also expressed concern over human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women and girls.

The report states that although council members are generally united in their desire to see a prosperous, peaceful Afghanistan free from terrorism and ruled by an inclusive government, they are divided over how to achieve this goal.

Some members, including the P3 (France, the UK, and the US) and other like-minded states, have previously argued that the Islamic Emirate must adhere to international norms in order to obtain international recognition and receive economic and development aid from the international community.

UN Security Council to Renew UNAMA Mandate
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Clashes Erupt Between Islamic Emirate, Pakistani Forces at Torkham

The clash occurred while hundreds of travelers and patients, along with thousands of freight trucks, remained stranded on both sides of the Torkham crossing.

Local residents report that forces of the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani military personnel engaged in a clash at Torkham around 12:30 AM on Sunday.

According to local sources, the shooting was initiated by Pakistani forces against the Islamic Emirate troops and their checkpoints. As a result, some shops and houses of civilians were also affected.

The clash occurred while hundreds of travelers and patients, along with thousands of freight trucks, remained stranded on both sides of the Torkham crossing.

Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, commented on the incident: “The Pakistani side initiated the conflict around midnight, which lasted for eleven days. Our defensive forces were compelled to respond, resulting in the destruction of some opposing checkpoints and casualties on their side. On our side, one Mujahid was martyred, and two others were injured. The issue has now been resolved.”

“When the clash happened last night, families were in a dire situation. It was raining, and they had to leave their homes,” said Hemat Shinwari, a local resident.

“Some people were asleep, while others had just returned from Taraweeh prayers when the gunfire started at midnight. The fighting was intense, forcing families to abandon their homes and leave the area overnight,” said Lal Nazar, another resident.

Meanwhile, truck drivers urge Pakistani authorities to resolve issues with Afghanistan through dialogue instead of conflict and to reopen the Torkham crossing as soon as possible.

“Thousands of trucks are stuck by the roadsides. It has been ten days since we have been here. We request that the route be reopened because we are extremely worried,” said Rahmat Gul, a truck driver at Torkham.

This is not the first time Pakistani forces have opened fire on the Islamic Emirate’s troops. Previously, Pakistani military personnel have repeatedly attacked Afghanistan’s security forces without any justification.

The Torkham crossing was closed to all movement ten days ago when Islamic Emirate forces were constructing facilities on their side of the hypothetical Durand Line, prompting Pakistan to block access.

Clashes Erupt Between Islamic Emirate, Pakistani Forces at Torkham
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Despite restrictions, Afghan women provide health care

Sana Safi, a young a doctor in Afghanistan, takes pride in her work, for she is among a shrinking group of female health experts in a country where women are banned from pursuing education or working in most sectors.

“I am making a real difference in the lives of my patients, especially women who have limited access to health care,” the doctor told VOA on the phone from Nangarhar province.

But she also is afraid of drawing attention to herself for fear of reprisal and asked to be called Sana Safi to avoid revealing her real identity.

Many female doctors have left Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. New women may not be entering the health sector any time soon, as the hardline de facto authorities banned medical education for women last December, leaving many final year students without a formal degree.

The edict was one in a long line of restrictions the Taliban’s reclusive spiritual leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, has placed on women, using extremely strict interpretation of Islamic teachings that he claims are divine commands.

The United Nations has called Taliban’s treatment of women “gender apartheid.”

Health is one of the few sectors in which Afghan women are allowed to work. Safi works in obstetrics and gynecology, one of the few specializations that women can practice.

Safi said she sees up to 40 women patients daily.

“What makes me sad about my work is the lack of resources, the restrictions on female health care workers, and the fact that many women are unable to get the medical attention they need due to cultural and political barriers,” the doctor said.

Barriers that women face in accessing health care vary according to local culture across the war-torn, mountainous country.

“Patients in restricted [conservative] provinces are not allowed to come to the health facility without a mahram [male guardian],” a health sector researcher told VOA by phone from Kabul.

She asked that we call her Amina to protect her identity as her work requires cross-country travel to collect data.

“We have had these reports from the health facility level that the female who did not have the mahram with herself at the moment of delivery of the baby, she died because of this issue,” the researcher said.

She said such restrictions are applied stringently in government-run health facilities in conservative towns but are largely ignored in private clinics, especially in urban centers like Kabul and Jalalabad.

A World Health Organization donor appeal issued last month said 14.5 million people, or 33 percent of Afghans, live in areas where primary health care cannot be accessed within a one-hour walk.

Since a majority of Afghans in the poverty-stricken country rely on state-run hospitals and health centers that provide care at little to no cost, women from poor households are forced to comply with the requirement of having a male guardian – who can even be a minor.

Amina, who travels with her husband for her research, told VOA that many female health workers also must bring a male family member to work with them in conservative parts of the country.

Taliban workers from the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, commonly called PVPV, routinely visit health centers to ensure compliance.

“They are regularly checking each health facility to see that each female health worker brought their mahram with herself or not,” said Amina.

The researcher said that the requirement that a male family member must accompany a woman outside the house, though, existed in conservative parts of the country under the U.S.-backed regimes, as well, because of cultural norms.

The checks under Taliban are thorough.

“They check the attendance sheet and ask who is a particular doctor’s mahram,” the researcher said.

The restrictions come at a financial cost to families, while men who could work sit idle as chaperones.

From pharmacies to hospitals, Taliban have put men in charge. However, performing duties amid restrictions on the mixing of sexes is a challenge for them, too.

Pharmacy workers in areas under strict Taliban control are discouraged from giving medicine to women without mahram, and hospital chiefs are punished for holding meetings with female staff, according to Amina’s research.

A hospital head in Badakhshan province spent two weeks behind bars after a meeting with female employees, Amina said.

Staff in private hospitals don’t face similar restrictions.

“In emergency situations or when no other doctor is available, I may also assist male patients, if necessary,” said Safi.

She told VOA she does not take a male guardian with her and that her employer provides transportation.

Amina said she believes Taliban are willing to look the other way because private hospitals pay taxes, contributing to the treasury.

Despite the Taliban’s ban on women’s education, a few medical institutions also continue to train women in Kabul. However, the fields are limited to midwifery and dentistry.

Both Safi and Amina worry that the limits on what female medical students can study will leave female patients with little help.

“It breaks my heart to see patients suffer simply because there aren’t enough medicines, equipment, or female doctors available,” Safi said.

Public health facilities across Afghanistan operate mostly with support from United Nattions agencies and other international aid organizations.

Amina said the Taliban-run health ministry pays attention to research reports and donor feedback. She pointed to the authorities’ support for vaccination programs.

Still, there is no sign the de facto authorities will lift restrictions on women’s education or access to work in health care despite international calls and dissent from within Taliban circles.

Cultural norms coupled with official restrictions mean some of the most vulnerable cannot receive the care they need.

“I hope for a future where health care is accessible to all,” Safi said. “And female doctors can work freely without fear or restrictions.”

Despite restrictions, Afghan women provide health care
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Over 2,000 Afghan asylum requests rejected in the UK, creating hostile environment for refugees

Over 2,000 Afghan asylum requests have been rejected in the UK, contributing to a growing hostile environment for refugees, warn rights activists.

In the final quarter of 2024, over 2,000 Afghan asylum applications were rejected in the UK. Human rights activists have warned about the “hostile environment” for Afghan refugees in the country. The UK Home Office, however, has stated that “no one will be sent back to Afghanistan.”

The immigration statistics, released on Thursday, show a sharp decrease in the acceptance rate for Afghan asylum applications, dropping from 98.5% in the last quarter of 2023 to just 36% in the final quarter of 2024. A Home Office document regarding the repatriation of individuals to Afghanistan, obtained by The Guardian, confirmed that “forced or voluntary returns of Afghan asylum seekers are currently halted, with no changes to this policy.”

According to The Guardian, the UK is no longer accepting travel documents issued by the Afghan embassy in London due to the Taliban’s stance. The UK government, in turn, does not recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government. While activists have welcomed the reduction in the backlog of asylum cases in recent months, they have questioned the decision to reject applications from individuals who cannot return to their home country.

Louise Calvey, the executive director of an organization supporting refugees in the UK, told The Guardian: “This significant increase in rejections for individuals whose need for asylum is clear is concerning. No one can look at the situation in Afghanistan and think that returning people to the Taliban is a safe option.” She added, “These rejections force people to remain in poverty and uncertainty for years.”

Despite the challenging circumstances, there is still a significant push from advocacy groups to hold the UK government accountable for its treatment of Afghan refugees.

They continue to call for the establishment of a more compassionate and just asylum process, one that truly considers the dangers faced by people fleeing conflict zones like Afghanistan. As the situation in Afghanistan remains volatile, the need for a thoughtful and humanitarian approach to asylum remains critical.

The UK government’s handling of Afghan asylum cases will likely remain a topic of debate as these issues continue to evolve. The international community and human rights organizations are watching closely to see whether the UK will take further action to address the concerns of refugees or whether these individuals will remain in a state of uncertainty for the foreseeable future.
Over 2,000 Afghan asylum requests rejected in the UK, creating hostile environment for refugees
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SIV Program Active, But Gov’t-Funded Resettlement Support Closed: Shawn VanDiver

Khaama Press

Shawn VanDiver, head of the organization helping Afghans resettle in the United States, announced on Friday, February 28 that the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program is still active and has not been stopped. However, government support for resettlement has been canceled for visa holders.

VanDiver posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Afghan nationals with approved visas can still travel to the U.S. at their own expense. Contrary to some rumors, the program is still operational, and there have been no changes in the visa issuance process.

He further emphasized that “the only thing permanently canceled is the government resettlement support, which SIV holders used to receive until January 20 upon arrival.” This support included financial assistance and basic services to help refugees start their lives in the U.S., but it is no longer provided due to changes in U.S. immigration policies.

“The SIV program is NOT closed. What’s closed, permanently, is the government funded resettlement support that refugees and SIVs used to receive (before Jan 20th) on arrival,” VanDiver stated.

The SIV program is one of the main pathways for Afghan nationals who worked with the U.S. government in Afghanistan. In recent months, concerns had arisen about the suspension of this program, but U.S. officials and immigration advocates have reassured that the application process is still ongoing.

The cancellation of resettlement support has raised concerns among Afghan refugees, particularly regarding their ability to settle in the U.S. without government assistance. Despite this, efforts continue to ensure the safe relocation of those who have risked their lives for the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

As the situation evolves, both Afghan applicants and U.S. officials must navigate these policy changes carefully, ensuring that the program continues to offer the necessary support for those seeking refuge.

The suspension of the U.S. refugee program has drawn significant criticism from veterans and U.S. officials who emphasize the importance of fulfilling commitments made to Afghan allies. Advocates urge the government to resume funding for resettlement programs, stressing that the future of thousands of Afghans depends on these initiatives.

The shift in policy has raised questions about the U.S.’s ability to honor its promises to those who assisted them during the Afghanistan war.

SIV Program Active, But Gov’t-Funded Resettlement Support Closed: Shawn VanDiver
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UNAMA Chief Warns of Severe Food Crisis in Afghanistan

She described food security as Afghanistan’s most pressing challenge at present.

Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has warned of a severe food crisis in the country.

She described food security as Afghanistan’s most pressing challenge at present.

Referring to the health situation in Afghanistan, Otunbayeva noted that alongside a high birth rate, child and maternal mortality rates have also alarmingly increased.

She stated: “the most important thing right now is to feed the nation. We are trying to mobilize all of the donor community to provide seeds to farmers, not to the Taliban.”

“We must enhance agricultural activities and production in Afghanistan, prioritize increasing exports, and make better use of Afghanistan’s mineral and economic resources so that we are not dependent on foreign aid in the long run,” said Mir Shakir Yaqoubi, an economic affairs analyst.

Poverty, unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change, and the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran are among the challenges that have consistently concerned the international community.

Some Kabul residents say they are facing many difficulties and call on authorities and international organizations to create job opportunities in the country.

“Job opportunities must be available, and companies should exist so that people can sustain their livelihoods. Unfortunately, there are neither factories nor anyone offering us permanent jobs,” said Islamuddin, a resident of Kabul.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy emphasizes the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to reduce unemployment and poverty while calling for continued humanitarian aid from the international community.

Abdul Latif Nazari, the deputy minister of economy, stated: “The Islamic Emirate has launched employment programs and large-scale economic and national projects to address economic challenges and food insecurity. At the same time, we urge the international community to continue assisting the Afghan people.”

Previously, various UN agencies and the World Bank had also warned about escalating food insecurity in Afghanistan, stating that one-third of the country’s population—approximately 12.6 million people—urgently need humanitarian assistance.

UNAMA Chief Warns of Severe Food Crisis in Afghanistan
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Today Marks Fifth Year of Doha Agreement

At times, officials from the previous US administration also accused Afghanistan of violating certain parts of the agreement.

The Doha Agreement between the Islamic Emirate and the United States marks its fifth anniversary today.

Five years ago, on the 10th of Hoot (February 29, 2020), the two sides signed an agreement in Doha, Qatar, which led to the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate delegation, led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, signed the Doha Agreement after eighteen months of negotiations.

“The Doha Agreement was signed between US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad and Mullah Baradar, along with Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, in Doha under Qatar’s mediation,” said Hadi Quraishi, a political analyst.

The agreement focused on four key points:
–Preventing the use of Afghan soil against the security of the US and its allies
–Complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan
–Initiation of intra-Afghan negotiations
–Establishment of a permanent ceasefire

“Afghanistan should not pose a threat to regional and international countries, and the Americans should not violate Afghanistan’s airspace. Additionally, intra-Afghan dialogues should be properly managed. Unfortunately, the Americans did not fulfill some of these commitments,” said Zalmay Afghanyar, a political analyst.

On this occasion, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, also stated that the United States has failed to implement some of its commitments under the agreement.

Mujahid said: “There were certain provisions in the agreement that the US was supposed to implement, but they have not been carried out yet. These include removing names from sanction lists and taking steps toward engagement with Afghanistan, which have not yet been fulfilled. We want these commitments to be completed. On the other hand, the Islamic Emirate has adhered to the general contents of the agreement, and so far, we see no issues in this regard.”

At times, officials from the previous US administration also accused Afghanistan of violating certain parts of the agreement.

According to the agreement, the US committed to withdrawing all its forces and those of its allies from Afghanistan within 14 months.

Following this process, US forces left Afghanistan in August 2021, resulting in the Islamic Emirate taking control of the country.

Today Marks Fifth Year of Doha Agreement
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Key Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing remains shut, disrupting trade and movement of people

By Riaz Khan | AP
The Washington Post
February 27, 2025
Officials say a nearly week-long closure of a key crossing on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has disrupted bilateral trade and the movement of people

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A nearly weeklong closure of a key crossing on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has disrupted bilateral trade and the movement of people, causing financial losses to traders and leaving people stranded in harsh winter conditions, officials said Thursday.

The Torkham border crossing has remained closed since Feb. 21 after Pakistan shut it down over a dispute concerning Afghanistan’s construction of a border post.

Since then, more than 5,000 trucks and vehicles carrying goods, including fruits and vegetables, have been stranded on both sides, awaiting the reopening of the trade route, according to Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, a director of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Torkham also serves as a vital corridor for transporting goods between Pakistan and Central Asian countries, and Sarhadi urged both countries to resolve their dispute so that bilateral trade and movement of people could resume.

At Torkham, truck driver Najeeb Ullah said that he was forced to sleep in his vehicle because he can’t leave it unguarded on the road.

“We request Pakistan and Afghanistan to have mercy on us, as we are suffering without any reason,” he told reporters.

Hundreds stranded near the border

Mustafa Khan, another driver, said that he was hoping to return to his northwestern city of Peshawar after delivering a supply of cement in Afghan city Jalalabad, but “I am stuck here since Friday, and I have no idea for how many days we will have to face this trouble.”

Farhad Nusrat, an Afghan citizen, said that he was returning home with his mother and children, and the closure of the border crossing has forced them to spend their days and nights in the open area. He appealed to Pakistani authorities to reopen the border.

Authorities said that hundreds of Pakistanis were also stranded on the other side of the border.

There was no immediate comment from Pakistan. However, Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the commissioner on the Afghan side of the border, confirmed the closure by Pakistan.

“Whenever Pakistani authorities conduct construction on their side, we say nothing. But whenever we do something, they close the border,” Hikmat said.

Border fence to strengthen control

Abdul Salam Jawad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Trade and E-commerce, said that the border crossing was shut by Pakistan unilaterally and the Afghan authorities were trying to resolve this issue.

He said the closure also affected landlocked Afghanistan’s transit trade. He provided no further details, but other Afghan Taliban and Pakistani local officials said those stranded on both sides included Afghan women, children, and patients who were either returning home or wanted to travel to Pakistan to receive medical treatment.

Border closures at Torkham are common because of disputes over new posts along the porous Durand Line, which Afghanistan has never officially recognized. Pakistan, meanwhile, has nearly completed a border fence to strengthen control.

The Torkham crossing is located on the edge of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Pakistani Taliban militants frequently target security forces.

The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, are a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, which seized power in 2021. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has emboldened the TTP, and increasing attacks by TTP on security forces in Pakistan has strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

Rasool Dawar contributed to this report.

Key Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing remains shut, disrupting trade and movement of people
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These countries could lose the most, if U.S. stops aid

By

Reuters

The U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington’s primary humanitarian aid agency, has been a top target of a government reduction program spearheaded by billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk since President Donald Trump took office on January 20.

Hours after he was sworn in, Trump ordered a 90-day pause to all U.S. foreign assistance pending assessments of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy. Four days later, on January 24, the U.S. State Department issued a “stop-work” order for all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid with the exception of waivers for military financing for Israel and Egypt. While the government gave an exemption for emergency food assistance and issued waivers for certain life-saving aid, uncertainty around most other programs has put thousands of jobs and millions of dollars’ worth of aid material in jeopardy.

The effects of shutting foreign aid down permanently could have impacts globally, especially for countries in Africa and the Middle East. The U.S. has contributed the largest foreign assistance among countries, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Why does USAID matter?

Foreign assistance is provided by different agencies of the U.S. government. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was the primary foreign assistance agency between 2014 and 2024. The agency disbursed, or spent, $314.3 billion out of the total $635.2 billion in this period. The State Department disbursed $175 billion. Obligations are money that was owed.

The agency also disbursed a substantial amount to provide food, water, shelter, healthcare and other such services for communities affected by natural and human-made disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, drought and wars.

Most of USAID’s assistance goes to health and humanitarian causes

The U.S. state and defense departments provide most of their assistance to peace and security measures.

Programs in the Peace and Security sector received the most assistance given by the Department of State and the Department of Defense. The Stabilisation operations and security sector reform program, which was the top program for the sector, attempts to stabilise conflict-affected regions and help improve a country’s security institutions like the military, police, and intelligence services.

Reliance on the U.S. for foreign assistance

As many as 31 countries, the majority in the Asia and Oceania and Sub-Saharan Africa regions, were reliant on the United States for at least one-fourth of their total foreign aid. The Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Thailand in Asia and Botswana and Eswatini in Sub-Saharan Africa were reliant on the U.S. for over half of their foreign aid.

Different regions, different priorities

The Middle East and North Africa region received nearly half of the aid disbursed for the Peace and Security sector. Israel, Afghanistan and Egypt were the top beneficiaries. The Trump administration exempted military aid to Israel and Egypt when it first decided to pause all foreign assistance.

The Sub-Saharan Africa region, which has received a bulk of the aid disbursed for the Health and Humanitarian Assistance sectors, may not be so lucky. Due to the sudden freeze in aid, anti-malaria programs in Kenya and Ghana have come to a standstill. They had received $434 million and $334 million respectively to combat the vector-borne disease. The vast majority of the world’s 597,000 malaria deaths in 2023 were African children aged under five years old, the WHO had said in December last year.

Although HIV/AIDS programs have been exempted from the freeze, the uncertainty around the future of the programs has caused widespread concerns. The United Nations AIDS agency has said that more than 6 million people could die from the disease in the next four years if funding is pulled from all programs. South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania have received the most aid to combat AIDS.

Ukraine, which has been dependent on the U.S. to rebuild its economy after its war with Russia, is likely to be affected as well. It has received more than $28 billion in assistance for Economic Development sector, nearly 90% of the total aid for the sector received by Europe and Eurasia.

Peace and security is the largest sector, with most funding going to the Middle East and North Africa

Other sectors such as health and humanitarian causes were more funded in Sub-Saharan Africa, or in world programs.

Region by region breakdown

The charts below show the four countries which have received the most foreign aid from the United States, in each region, and the five programs for which the most aid was disbursed.Along with Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Iraq received the most aid in the Middle East and North Africa region. While Israel, Iraq and Egypt received the most military assistance, Jordan benefitted from assistance across all sectors including economic development, health and basic education. Investment bank JP Morgan noted that USAID has provided significant budgetary support in Ukraine and Jordan in particular and making up the lost support for healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure in those countries and elsewhere will be tough.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Health was the top sector for U.S. foreign assistance in the Sub-Saharan Africa region

Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Nigeria received the most aid from the U.S. in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The Health and Humanitarian Assistance sectors accounted for the highest aid disbursements for these four countries with the top health programs being assistance for HIV/AIDS patients and tackling Malaria. Kenya accounted for 9% of all deaths recorded due to HIV/AIDS in 2021, according to Our World in Data while Nigeria recorded 305 new cases of malaria per 1,000 people in 2022, which was among the highest in the world.

Protection, Assistance and Solutions, which was also a top program, aims to provide support on basic necessities in case of losses due to natural and human-made disasters. It also intends to identify risks and provide strategies to safeguard persons in possible harm.

Asia and Oceania

Peace and security was the top sector for U.S. foreign assistance in the Asia and Oceania region

Afghanistan has received $53.1 billion from the U.S., the highest for any country between 2014 and 2024. The majority of its aid was disbursed for the Stabilization Operations and Security Sector Reform program. It has also received significant assistance towards the Economic Development sector and Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance sector.

The United States’ assistance to Afghanistan significantly reduced over the years. Between 2014 and 2019, it disbursed $810 million on average every year. However, after it decided to pull out its troops from the country in early 2020, its aid has significantly reduced. Between 2020 and 2024, it disbursed $217 million on average every year.

Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines were the other major beneficiaries in the region.

Europe and Western Hemisphere

Economic development, largely due to Ukraine, was the top sector for U.S. foreign assistance in Europe, Eurasia and Western Hemisphere.

anistan, Ukraine has received the most foreign assistance from the U.S. However, unlike Afghanistan, Ukraine received the majority of its aid from 2022. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the country had received just over $4 billion between 2014 and 2021. However, since 2022, this figure increased by over nine times. From 2022, it has received nearly $40 billion from the U.S. for all sectors. Now with aid frozen, non-military programs are severely affected as a lot of them depend on the U.S. for its finances.

Note

Data for 2024 is as of December 19, 2024 from ForeignAssistance.gov. All data are for disbursements unless specified otherwise. All disbursements amounts are in constant USD (2023). Foreign assistance benefitting multiple countries may be assigned ‘World Programs’ for global programs

These countries could lose the most, if U.S. stops aid
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Trump and Defense Secretary to review failed Afghanistan withdrawal, will call for General firings

Khaama Press

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that they are reviewing the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump urged Hegseth to fire all generals involved in the withdrawal process.

In a cabinet meeting, Trump stated, “I wouldn’t tell the Secretary of Defense what to do, but if I were him, I would fire all of them. I don’t think the generals involved in Afghanistan will get promoted, most of them will retire.”

Trump and Hegseth emphasized that they will thoroughly review all aspects of the failed U.S. withdrawal, vowing to be more accountable than the previous administration in handling the situation.

Pete Hegseth confirmed during the meeting that a comprehensive review of the entire Afghanistan withdrawal process is underway. He assured that they would take full responsibility for the outcome and its implications.

Trump reiterated his call for accountability from those responsible for the deaths and injuries of U.S. soldiers during the withdrawal. He expressed deep concern over the casualties and described the handling of the situation as “horrific.”

The last U.S. soldier left Kabul on August 15, 2021, marking the complete withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. This event coincided with the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban after the flight of President Ashraf Ghani.

While the new U.S. administration has yet to announce a clear strategy for Afghanistan, Trump’s continued focus on retrieving military equipment and holding those responsible for the chaotic exit reflects ongoing tensions over the handling of the withdrawal.

Trump and Defense Secretary to review failed Afghanistan withdrawal, will call for General firings
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