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Human Rights Watch Warns Millions in Afghanistan Face Imminent Hunger Crisis

July 18, 2026 Current News Articles

Human Rights Watch Warns Millions in Afghanistan Face Imminent Hunger Crisis

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that Afghanistan’s economic crisis is worsening, with millions of people facing the threat of severe hunger, and called for urgent international funding for humanitarian operations as well as the removal of Taliban restrictions on women.

In a statement released on Friday, Fereshteh Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said millions of Afghans were at risk of an imminent hunger crisis and stressed that the Taliban’s policies were exacerbating humanitarian needs.

“Exacerbating the crisis, the Taliban’s repressive policies impose severe restrictions on women working in international aid organizations and the UN,” Abbasi said.

She noted that by restricting women’s participation in humanitarian work, the Taliban have made it more difficult for aid agencies to reach vulnerable communities. Because only female aid workers are permitted to assist women in many areas, female-headed households are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity.

Abbasi urged donor governments to immediately increase funding for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to lift all restrictions on women’s rights, including bans on women’s employment and freedom of movement that prevent them from accessing humanitarian assistance and economic opportunities.

Human Rights Watch also identified the forced return of millions of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries as another factor worsening the humanitarian situation.

The organization said many of the five million Afghans who have been forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan over the past two years have gone back to areas already struggling with drought and limited employment opportunities, placing additional pressure on already vulnerable communities.

Abbasi further called on governments to ensure that returns of Afghan refugees and migrants are voluntary, safe, dignified, and accompanied by sustained support for their reintegration.

The warning comes amid growing concerns over Afghanistan’s food insecurity. The United Nations has previously estimated that more than 17 million people—over one-third of Afghanistan’s population—will face acute food insecurity this year, with women and children disproportionately affected.

The UN appealed for $1.71 billion to address humanitarian needs in Afghanistan in 2026, but less than 20 percent of the required funding had been received by the first half of the year.

Humanitarian agencies have also been hit by a sharp decline in foreign assistance from the United States, which previously financed up to 40 percent of humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.

As a result, aid organizations have been forced to scale back programs and prioritize assistance for those in the most critical need.

According to Human Rights Watch, the country’s food security has continued to deteriorate. Before October 2025, only 28 percent of Afghan households had sufficient access to food without external assistance. By April 2026, that figure had fallen to just 20 percent, while approximately 22 million people now require urgent food and healthcare assistance

Iran, Tajikistan and Kabul Agree on New Road Transit Corridor Through Afghanistan

July 17, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 17, 2026

Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan agreed to establish a road transit corridor aimed at expanding regional trade and improving cross-border freight connectivity.

Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan have agreed to establish a new road transit corridor through Afghan territory to facilitate regional trade and streamline freight transport between Iran and Tajikistan, officials said on Thursday.

Taliban’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation said the agreement was reached during a trilateral meeting in the Iranian city of Mashhad. The ministry said the initiative will create a dedicated overland transport route allowing commercial goods to move between Iran and Tajikistan via Afghanistan, with the aim of strengthening regional connectivity and expanding economic cooperation.

According to the ministry, the corridor will enable cargo shipments from both Iran and Tajikistan to transit Afghanistan territory under a coordinated transport framework designed to simplify cross-border freight movement and improve logistics.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing the General Directorate of Road Maintenance and Transportation of Razavi Khorasan Province, reported that senior transport officials from the three sides signed an operational framework for implementing the corridor.

Jafar Shahamat, head of the Razavi Khorasan road transport authority, said the first pilot shipment is expected to pass through the corridor within the next month. The trial will involve transport fleets from all three participants and will assess customs procedures, border operations, logistics coordination and the commercial viability of the route before full implementation.

The agreement comes as Afghanistan seeks to diversify trade routes and strengthen regional economic integration amid persistent economic challenges. Improved overland connectivity has become increasingly important as businesses continue to face higher transport costs, supply chain disruptions and logistical uncertainties linked to regional instability.

According to the World Bank, Iran accounted for 31.6% of Afghanistan’s total imports, making it the country’s largest import partner. Analysts say the planned corridor could strengthen regional trade and improve supply chains, although its long-term success will depend on security conditions, efficient customs coordination and effective implementation by all three countries.

Afghanistan has increasingly sought to expand regional transit links with neighboring countries as part of broader efforts to boost trade, reduce transport costs and improve access to international markets. Landlocked Afghanistan relies heavily on overland trade corridors through neighboring states, making regional transport cooperation critical to its economic recovery and long-term development.

UK Pledges £420 Million in Humanitarian Aid for Afghanistan Through 2029

July 17, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 17, 2026

Britain pledged £105 million annually in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan through 2029, focusing on food security, healthcare, women and vulnerable communities.

The United Kingdom has pledged £105 million ($141 million) annually in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan through 2029, reaffirming its long-term commitment to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises while placing women, girls and vulnerable communities at the center of its aid strategy.

In a written statement to Parliament on Thursday, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hamish Falconer said Britain will provide £420 million between 2026 and 2029 to support life-saving humanitarian assistance and essential services across Afghanistan, where millions remain dependent on international aid nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power.

The UK government said an estimated 22 million people are expected to require humanitarian assistance this year, while 17.4 million face acute food insecurity. It added that almost 5 million women, girls and boys are projected to require treatment for acute malnutrition in 2026, underscoring the scale of the country’s humanitarian emergency.

British officials said the funding will support emergency food assistance, healthcare, nutrition, education, livelihoods, protection services and climate resilience. The government said aid will continue to be delivered through trusted humanitarian organizations and Afghan partners operating independently of the Taliban authorities.

London also pledged additional support for Afghans returning from neighboring countries, particularly Iran, where hundreds of thousands have returned or been deported in recent months, placing further strain on already overstretched humanitarian services.

The statement reaffirmed Britain’s criticism of the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls, saying bans on education, employment and public participation violate fundamental rights and undermine Afghanistan’s long-term stability and development. The government said women and girls will remain a priority, with at least half of all beneficiaries of UK-funded humanitarian programs expected to be female.

The announcement comes as international aid agencies warn that Afghanistan’s humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate. UNICEF recently said severe acute malnutrition has spread to 26 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, while humanitarian organizations have cited funding shortages, economic decline, climate shocks and restrictions affecting women as major obstacles to aid delivery.

British officials said the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will oversee independent monitoring mechanisms to help ensure assistance reaches intended beneficiaries. According to the government, UK development assistance supported at least 2.7 million people during the 2024–25 financial year, including more than 1.7 million women and girls.

The government also reaffirmed its political support for Afghan women, saying it will continue to elevate their voices in international policymaking. It highlighted the UK Special Envoy’s visit to Kabul in May, where he met Afghan women and civil society representatives, and officials’ assessment mission to the Islam Qala border crossing to review the humanitarian needs of returnees arriving from Iran.

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies following years of conflict, economic collapse and recurring climate shocks. Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, international sanctions, reduced development assistance and restrictions on women and girls have deepened the country’s economic and social crisis.

According to the United Nations, millions of Afghans continue to rely on humanitarian aid for food, healthcare and other basic services, while donor agencies have repeatedly warned that funding shortfalls threaten critical relief operations.

Criticism of Pakistan’s Afghanistan Policy Grows Amid Ongoing Tensions

July 17, 2026 Current News Articles

Bibi Amina Hakimi

TOLOnews’ Reporter

17 July 2026

Russia: ISIS-K Seeks to Use Afghanistan to Expand Its Operations

July 17, 2026 Current News Articles

By Mitra Majeedy

Journalist

Tolo News

17 July 2026

According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov identified the ISIS-K as the primary security threat to Central Asia.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described terrorism as one of the most serious threats to global peace and stability during a regional counterterrorism meeting.

According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov identified the ISIS-K as the primary security threat to Central Asia, saying the group is seeking to use Afghanistan as a base to expand its activities and establish a caliphate.

Quoting Lavrov, the ministry said: “Terrorism remains one the most daunting challenges to international peace and stability. For the Central Asian region, the main threat is undoubtedly posed by the Islamic State offshoot Wilayat Khorasan, which seeks to use Afghanistan as a launching pad for expansion and subsequent establishment of a caliphate.”

Sarwar Niazi, a military affairs analyst, said: “Today, we see that ISIS has not claimed control over any part of Afghanistan’s territory. Therefore, the current government’s fight against terrorism is commendable and should be supported.”

Responding to Lavrov’s remarks, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate said ISIS has been completely suppressed in Afghanistan and no longer has any physical presence in the country.

Speaking to TOLOnews, Zabihullah Mujahid said the Islamic Emirate’s forces maintain full control over all of Afghanistan and that neighboring countries and the wider region should have no concerns in this regard.

Mujahid added: “ISIS members have been completely crushed in Afghanistan and have no physical presence here. The security forces have full control over Afghanistan’s territory.”

Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, said: “We have fulfilled our responsibility at the regional level. There is no armed or subversive group that poses a threat to Afghanistan’s internal security or cross-border security.”

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate announced that, as part of its campaign against ISIS-K, it had carried out airstrikes last month on the group’s bases in parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, inflicting casualties and financial losses on the group.

Pakistani troops kill 24 militants in raids as violence escalates in region near Afghanistan

July 17, 2026 Current News Articles

By MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press

July 17, 2026

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces raided multiple militant hideouts in the country’s northwest region, killing Pakistani Taliban and seizing a cache of weapons, the military and local officials said.

The military said Friday it used intelligence sources to target militants in operations carried out over the previous day that killed 24 members of the outlawed Pakistani Taliban and Baloch separatist groups.

The military said in a statement that the raids came in response to a pair of militant attacks on Wednesday, including a suicide bomber who used a vehicle packed with explosives to ram police officers and civilians. A little-known militant group also targeted a police station and wounded several officers in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces on Friday for what they described as a swift and effective action against those responsible for recent attacks in Bannu.

The two men said in separate statements that eliminating terrorism remained the government’s top priority and vowed to bring perpetrators to justice.

The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, are separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban government, which Pakistan frequently accuses of turning a blind eye to cross-border militant attacks. Afghanistan’s government in Kabul repeatedly rejects the claims, although the TTP and Baloch separatist group BLA frequently claim responsibility for attacks in Pakistan.

Since last year, Pakistan has carried out multiple strikes it says targeted TTP hideouts along the Afghan border.

The Pakistani government in the capital Islamabad also alleges the groups receive support from India to the south, which the Indian government in New Delhi denies. In their statements Friday, the president and prime minister repeated the allegation.

Pakistan’s security forces intend to press ahead with Azm-e-Istehkam, or “Resolve for Stability,” a nationwide counterterrorism campaign approved last year under the National Action Plan to dismantle militant networks across the country, the military said.

Haiti: Training the next generation to fight corruption

July 17, 2026 Current News Articles

By Jerome Bernard

UN News

Global perspective Human stories

July 18, 2026

UNHAS helicopter flying over the Port-au-Prince urban landscape in Haiti.

A helicopter flies over the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince

Corruption and related financial criminality come in many forms in the embattled Caribbean island nation, according to the regular quarterly report of the UN Secretary-General. They include:

Money laundering
Financial crimes
Illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition
Financing of armed groups
Political and business collusion with gangs
Non-transparent public contracting in security, customs, immigration and penitentiary services
Impunity that enables corruption and organized criminal networks

Learning to choose integrity

Recently, 60 students and young civil society leaders – selected from 180 applicants – took part in the first Summer School on Anti-Corruption, organized by Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) with support from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

During an intensive week of lectures, interactive workshops and practical exercises, participants learned how to identify, prevent and report corruption.

Using real-life scenarios, they confronted ethical dilemmas, deciding whether to report corrupt practices depending on the role they had been assigned. They also practiced filing complaints through the ULCC’s anti-corruption hotline (5656), gaining firsthand experience with official reporting mechanisms.

For Adamson Junior Lavéus, the programme was transformative.

“As a citizen, this activity enabled me to understand the phenomenon of corruption through its various manifestations: extortion, illicit enrichment, misappropriation of public assets, and bribery, among others,” he said in a testimonial collected by UNODC.

Beyond expanding his knowledge, the training reinforced his belief that everyone has a role to play.

“Civic education is essential. It contributes to the empowerment of Haitian society and allows us to build our foundations on moral values.”

The programme’s success has sparked strong interest. This year, a second Summer School is being organized, attracting hundreds of applications within just a few days.

Students participate in a workshop at the Anti-Corruption Summer School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They are seated around a yellow table, reviewing papers and documents. — ULCC/UNODC Participants at the Anti-Corruption Summer School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2025.

Investing in the next generation

For Adrian Banu, UNODC‘s anti-corruption adviser in Haiti, the Summer School is far more than a training programme. In a country where more than half the population is under 25, it is an investment in the generation that will one day rebuild public institutions.

“This is not work that will yield an impact in a year or two,” he said in an interview with UN News. “It is work whose results might only be seen in 20 years, but it is work that can truly bring about profound societal change.”

The initiative forms part of a broader prevention strategy. With UNODC support, around 50 integrity clubs have already been established in schools across Haiti, where students take part in role-playing exercises, short plays and awareness campaigns highlighting the consequences of corruption and the importance of civic responsibility.

“In doing so, young people are developing a genuine culture of integrity,” Mr. Banu emphasized.

A man in a suit speaks at a presentation to an audience in a classroom setting.

Strengthening justice

The strategy also focuses on reinforcing Haiti’s justice system.

In late May, with United Nations support, the authorities inaugurated two specialized judicial units: one dedicated to financial crime and corruption, and another focused on mass crimes, particularly sexual violence. Twenty-five specially trained magistrates have been appointed to investigate and prosecute these complex cases.

“What can change the situation regarding impunity in Haiti is the creation of a system,” Mr. Banu explained. “These judicial units are not a magic bullet, but rather a solution within a broader system.”

According to him, progress is already visible. Thanks to stronger cooperation between institutions, the ULCC has referred 68 investigation reports to judicial authorities over the past four to five years – more than during the previous 17 years combined.

UNODC is also helping strengthen protections for magistrates, witnesses and whistleblowers in an environment where gang violence makes investigations especially dangerous.

The agency is supporting the development of legislation to better protect those who report corruption.

“When I had someone before me who wanted to blow the whistle, the first question was: ‘How can you protect me if I share something sensitive with you?’” recalled Mr. Banu, a former police investigator in Romania.

Protecting magistrates remains another priority. Measures such as improving courthouse security and providing specialized equipment are under consideration, although no safeguard can fully eliminate the risks posed by Haiti’s current security situation.

A long-term commitment

For Mr. Banu, fighting corruption is ultimately a long-term undertaking. The young people being trained today could become tomorrow’s leaders, helping build institutions founded on transparency, accountability and integrity.

Drawing on more than thirteen years of anti-corruption experience, he points to Romania as proof that change is possible.

“Thirty years ago, corruption was far more prevalent there,” he said. While challenges remain, the country’s anti-corruption system has become “functional”.

That experience underpins his optimism for Haiti.

“Progress – I would say it is possible, even in Haiti.”

U.S. Judge Strikes Down Four USCIS Policies Delaying Afghan Immigration Cases

July 16, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 16, 2026

A U.S. federal judge has struck down four U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies that delayed or subjected immigration benefit applications filed by nationals of Afghanistan and 38 other countries to heightened scrutiny, ruling that the agency exceeded its legal authority under federal administrative law.

The decision follows a ruling that also rejected the U.S. government’s request to pause the judgment while it pursues an appeal. According to AfghanEvac on 15 July, USCIS has already resumed processing immigration benefit applications that had been placed on hold under the now-vacated policies.

The ruling, issued under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), found that USCIS acted beyond the authority granted by Congress when it implemented policies that paused adjudications, suspended certain asylum decisions, required previously approved cases to undergo additional review, and instructed immigration officers to treat nationality from designated countries as a significant negative factor in discretionary decisions.

The court vacated four agency policies: the Benefits Hold Policy, which prevented final decisions on many immigration applications; the Global Asylum Hold Policy, which paused asylum and withholding-of-removal cases; the Comprehensive Re-Review Policy, which required previously approved applications to be reassessed; and the Country-Specific Factors Policy, which directed officers to weigh an applicant’s nationality negatively in discretionary immigration determinations.

The judge concluded that USCIS failed to provide an adequate legal basis for the policies and did not properly consider the reliance interests of applicants who had already completed interviews, submitted biometric information and passed security screenings. The court found the agency’s actions to be arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.

On July 15, the court also denied the government’s motion to stay the ruling pending appeal, finding that the administration had not demonstrated a likelihood of success on appeal or shown that allowing the decision to remain in effect would cause irreparable harm.

According to AfghanEvac, USCIS has already implemented the ruling nationwide and is treating the challenged policy guidance as no longer in effect. As a result, immigration benefit applications that had been frozen under the policies have resumed moving through the adjudication process.

The ruling is expected to have its greatest immediate impact on Afghan nationals and other affected applicants already residing in the United States with pending applications for adjustment of status, asylum-related benefits, employment authorization and naturalization.

However, the decision does not invalidate the presidential travel restrictions affecting Afghanistan and other countries. It also does not restart the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, resume Operation Enduring Welcome, reopen overseas visa processing, or affect Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications handled by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

The court resolved the dispute solely on administrative law grounds and declined to issue a permanent injunction or rule on broader constitutional claims.

The Justice Department has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. While the challenged USCIS policies remain invalid, the government may still seek emergency relief from the appellate court as the litigation continues.

Russia Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Crisis as Polio Cases Rise in Afghanistan

July 16, 2026 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

July 16, 2026

Russia has expressed renewed concern over Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation, citing high infant mortality and the continued spread of polio while accusing Western countries of politicizing humanitarian assistance and maintaining measures that have worsened the country’s economic crisis.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Afghanistan continues to face severe humanitarian challenges, describing infant mortality and the resurgence of polio as among the country’s most pressing public health concerns.

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) data, Zakharova said 21 polio cases had been recorded in border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan during 2025 and 2026. She added that many children under the age of 10 in those regions remain unvaccinated, increasing the risk of further transmission.

Zakharova also said Afghanistan’s infant mortality rate stands at 33.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, describing it as significantly higher than the global average and attributing the situation to the country’s fragile healthcare system and prolonged humanitarian crisis.

Her remarks came after the WHO announced four new cases of wild poliovirus in Afghanistan, reported in Nangarhar, Helmand and Herat provinces. According to the agency, the new infections bring the number of confirmed polio cases in Afghanistan this year to 11, underscoring continued challenges to eradication efforts.

Afghanistan remains one of only two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic. The WHO and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that insecurity, population displacement, limited healthcare access, funding shortages and interruptions to vaccination campaigns continue to hamper eradication efforts, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

United Nations agencies have also warned that Afghanistan’s broader humanitarian crisis has been intensified by economic decline, widespread poverty, climate-related shocks and declining international aid. They have further stated that restrictions imposed on women since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 have complicated the delivery of humanitarian assistance and reduced access to healthcare and other essential services.

IEA Blames Foreign Intelligence for Attacks on Chinese Nationals

July 16, 2026 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

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16 July 2026

Learning to choose integrity

Investing in the next generation

Strengthening justice

A long-term commitment

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