UN Deploys Teams to Mitigate Flood Crisis in Afghanistan

May 15, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
14 May 2024

Recently, the World Health Organization has delivered seven tons of medicine and medical equipment.

The United Nations has deployed 14 joint assessment teams to identify flood-affected areas and address the conditions of flood victims in Baghlan, Badakhshan, and Takhar.

The deputy spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General said in a press briefing that the search and rescue operations continue with the support of the Afghanistan State Ministry for Disaster Management Affairs.

The Deputy Spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, stated; “We, along with our partners, are coordinating with the de facto authorities on the response — 14 joint assessment teams have been deployed and humanitarian partners have identified available emergency stocks in the region. On the health front, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and our partners deployed 27 mobile teams in Baghlan, Badakhshan and in Takhar provinces to support the response.”

Four days have elapsed since this natural disaster struck, yet relief agencies and government departments continue to actively distribute aid to those affected by these catastrophic floods.

Recently, the World Health Organization has delivered seven tons of medicine and medical equipment. Additionally, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has provided food, sanitary supplies, and other essential items.

The World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations are among the global aid organizations that have sent emergency aid to address the situation of the flood victims in the northern provinces.

Meanwhile, Thomas West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, on X said that the US partners are mobilizing emergency aid, including food and water, for flood victims in Afghanistan.

Although The State Ministry for Disaster Management Affairs does not provide precise statistics on the aid provided, it states that the relevant departments of this ministry are providing emergency aid to the victims of recent floods.

“In the provinces of Badakhshan, Takhar, Baghlan, Ghor, and Herat, 8,829 homes have been completely or partially destroyed, and more than 3,000 livestock have also perished,” said Janan Saiq, spokesperson for the State Ministry for Disaster Management Affairs.

Baghlan, Badakhshan, and Takhar have seen the most damage from these recent floods, but in Baghlan, more than 80% of the casualties and significant financial losses have occurred.

UN Deploys Teams to Mitigate Flood Crisis in Afghanistan
read more

40,000 children left homeless in Baghlan due to devastating floods: Save the Children

May 14, 2024
Khaama Press

Save the Children has expressed concern over the devastating consequences of floods in Baghlan province, stating that approximately 40,000 children in this province have lost their homes.

According to a statement released on Monday, May 13, the organization announced the launch of health clinics staffed by female and male specialists to assist the affected in Baghlan province.

Arshad Malik, the head of Save the Children, emphasized that children in Baghlan province have lost everything.

Save the Children attributes the recent floods in Baghlan province to Afghanistan’s vulnerability to climate change and notes that children are the primary victims.

According to the organization’s report, citing local authorities, at least 200 people, including children, have lost their lives in floods in Baghlan.

Earlier, the United Nations and several relief agencies called for urgent humanitarian assistance for the country’s flood victims.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations of the Taliban administration has announced a death toll of 315 people.

40,000 children left homeless in Baghlan due to devastating floods: Save the Children
read more

USIP Report: Recalibrating Counterterrorism Strategy Amid US-China and India-Pakistan Concerns

May 14, 2024

In a comprehensive report released by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Tuesday, the Senior Study Group on Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan has highlighted the urgent need to recalibrate the US counterterrorism strategy amidst growing strategic competition with China and the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. The report comes in the wake of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in April 2021 and the subsequent rise in terrorist threats in the region.

President Joe Biden’s announcement of the withdrawal underscored counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan as a critical national security interest. This priority became even more pronounced after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 and the discovery of al-Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul. However, the escalating strategic competition with China and Russia has since overshadowed counterterrorism efforts on the policy agenda.

The USIP report, the result of extensive deliberations from 2022 to 2023, presents two major conclusions and proposes a recalibrated strategy to address the evolving counterterrorism challenges.

Recalibrating Focus on Counterterrorism

The report argues that counterterrorism should not be perceived as a distraction from strategic competition but rather as a crucial component in protecting the strategic agenda. Terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan still possess the intent and growing capability to target the US and its interests. A successful terrorist attack would not only result in tragic loss of lives but also divert resources and attention from strategic competition, undermining America’s credibility and alliances.

Moreover, terrorist attacks originating from the region could spark dangerous regional crises, particularly between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed states. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has emboldened terrorist groups, providing them with opportunities to regroup and collaborate. ISIS-K, for instance, presents a growing threat with a reach beyond the immediate region, while the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has re-emerged as a significant regional security threat.

Strategic Options for Revitalizing Counterterrorism Efforts

The USIP study group suggests several strategic options to address the rising terrorism threats without compromising the focus on strategic competition:

  1. Engaging the Taliban: The report recommends publicly pressuring the Taliban to mitigate terrorist threats while maintaining communication channels for counterterrorism exchanges. This approach includes developing a public reporting mechanism to document Taliban compliance with counterterrorism commitments and building dedicated diplomatic and intelligence channels with the Taliban.
  2. Enhancing Military and Intelligence Capabilities: To deter and disrupt terrorism threats, the report suggests increasing military and intelligence resources dedicated to counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This includes improving intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and expanding the US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program.
  3. Legal Transparency in Counterterrorism Operations: The report emphasizes the need for greater transparency in legal authorities for counterterrorism operations, ensuring actions are justified and minimizing civilian harm. This involves targeting terrorist groups planning attacks against the US and employing cyber operations to disrupt their communications.
  4. Strengthening Counterterrorism Cooperation with Pakistan: The report calls for enhanced counterterrorism-specific security assistance and intelligence to Pakistan. This assistance aims to reduce the TTP threat, secure long-term airspace access for operations in Afghanistan, and improve the overall counterterrorism relationship with Pakistan.
  5. Preparing for Terrorist Attack Contingencies: The report highlights the importance of improving preparedness for terrorist attacks in the US homeland and overseas, especially in South Asia. This includes enhancing intelligence collection and analysis, providing travel warnings, and securing emergency military operations bases in Central Asia and Pakistan.

Conclusion

The USIP report underscores the necessity of a recalibrated counterterrorism strategy that aligns with the broader strategic competition framework. By implementing these measures, policymakers can better safeguard US interests in Afghanistan and Pakistan while maintaining a sustained focus on addressing strategic competition with China and managing regional tensions between India and Pakistan. The proposed strategy aims to balance counterterrorism efforts with the need to address broader strategic concerns, ensuring a sustainable approach to managing terrorism threats from the region.

USIP Report: Recalibrating Counterterrorism Strategy Amid US-China and India-Pakistan Concerns
read more

Navigating Complex Geopolitics: The Road to the Doha Meeting

May 14, 2024
Mitra Majeedy
Tolo News
14 May 2024

At the same time, Amir Khan Muttaqi mentioned that appointing a special representative for Afghanistan is unnecessary.

Roza Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA, met with Iranian officials about significant issues including the upcoming Doha meeting.

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador and special envoy for Afghanistan, highlighted during his conversation with Roza Otunbayeva that the third Doha meeting indicated the United Nations’ role in establishing a fair order and promoting constructive engagement between Afghanistan and neighboring countries.

The head of the UNAMA also met with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the foreign minister of Iran.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Hassan Kazemi Qomi emphasized the significant role of the United Nations in maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Iranian ambassador and special representative in Afghanistan mentioned the meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, saying: “Referring to the destructive role of American policies in the region and Washington’s illegitimate influence on UN policymaking, the necessity of the UN to recognize the realities of Afghanistan and the region, especially during the third Doha meeting, and to play its inherent role in establishing sustainable peace and creating a fair political order in Afghanistan through constructive and continuous interaction with regional countries, was emphasized.”

At the same time, Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting minister of Foreign Affairs, described the upcoming Doha meeting on Afghanistan as positive in a meeting with the Japanese ambassador in Kabul; however, he mentioned that appointing a special representative for Afghanistan is unnecessary.

Hafez Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quoting the Japanese ambassador in Kabul, said that “appointing a special envoy for Afghanistan without the agreement of the Islamic Emirate is not realistic.”

“The acting minister of Foreign Affairs has a positive view about the Doha meeting and considers appointing a special representative for Afghanistan unnecessary. He also said that instead of new mechanisms, existing bilateral mechanisms should be used to discuss all issues with the Afghan government.”

However, some political experts say that if the world and the Islamic Emirate comply with each other’s demands on certain issues, such meetings about Afghanistan will be effective.

Samim Shamsi, a political analyst, said: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should at least accept the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and the rightful demands of the international community, and on the other hand, the United Nations should cooperate with them on the necessities and needs that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has concerning national issues.”

Saleem Paigir, another political analyst, said: “If the United Nations intends to play an important and vital role in the upcoming Doha meeting, we might witness the formation of a strong regime in Afghanistan by the Afghan people.”

Previously, the Secretary-General of the United Nations hosted a meeting on the situation in Afghanistan with the participation of special representatives from over 25 countries in Doha on February 18th and 19th of this year. Representatives of Afghan civil society and women also attended this meeting; however, the Islamic Emirate abstained from participating in the second Doha meeting due to lack of access to the details of the meetings

Navigating Complex Geopolitics: The Road to the Doha Meeting
read more

Families still looking for missing loved ones after devastating Afghanistan floods killed scores

May 13, 2024

BY RAHIM FAIEZ

Associated Press

Updated 12:52 PM EDT, May 13, 2024

ISLAMABAD (AP) — When he heard that devastating floods hit his village in northern Afghanistan last week, farmer Abdul Ghani rushed home from neighboring Kunduz province where he was visiting relatives. When he got home, he found out that his wife and three children had perished in the deluge.

Two of his sons survived but another son, who is 11, is still missing. “I couldn’t even find the road to my village,” he said, describing how he turned back and went another way to reach his district of Nahrin in Baghlan province.

Across Baghlan, others like Ghani and survivors of the disaster were still searching for their missing loved ones and burying their dead on Monday.

“Roads, villages and lands were all washed away,” Ghani said. His wife, his 7-year-old and 9-year-old daughters and a 4-year-old son died.

“My life has turned into a disaster,” he said, speaking to The Associated Press over the phone.

Survivors have been left with no home, no land, and no source of livelihood, the World Food Organization said. Most of Baghlan is “inaccessible by trucks,” said WFP, adding that it is resorting to every alternative it can think of to get food to the survivors.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed condolences to the victims, said a statement on Sunday, adding that the world body and aid agencies are working with the Taliban-run government to help.

“The United Nations and its partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance,” according to the statement.

The dead include 51 children, according to UNICEF, one of several international aid groups that are sending relief teams, medicines, blankets and other supplies. The World Health Organization said it delivered 7 tons of medicines and emergency kits to the stricken areas.

The latest disaster came on the heels of a previous one, when at least 70 people died in April from heavy rains and flash floods in the country. The waters also destroyed about 2,000 homes, three mosques and four schools in western Farah and Herat, and southern Zabul and Kandahar provinces.

 

Families still looking for missing loved ones after devastating Afghanistan floods killed scores
read more

Flash Flooding in Afghanistan Kills at Least 300, With More Missing

May 13, 2024
By Safiullah Padshah, Christina Goldbaum and Najim Rahim

Safiullah Padshah reported from Kabul, Afghanistan, Christina Goldbaum from London, and Najim Rahim from San Francisco.

May 12, 2024

Heavy seasonal rains have set off floods in the northern province of Baghlan and in at least three other provinces.

Heavy seasonal rains have set off flash floods across Afghanistan, killing more than 300 people in one province and destroying thousands of homes, according to United Nations officials. The floods have displaced thousands of others and engulfed entire villages, Afghan officials say.

The flood’s toll in the northern province of Baghlan, which appeared to have suffered the worst devastation, was likely to rise, said Hedayatullah Hamdard, the director of the provincial disaster management department. Most of the dead there were women and children, he said. At least 2,000 homes have been destroyed, according to the U.N. World Food Program.

Flooding began around 4 p.m. Friday and continued into the evening in Baghlan Province. Abdul Aziz Ayyar, a tribal elder, was in his home in the Baghlan-e-Markazi District when rain began pouring down. He stepped outside and saw a torrent of water rushing down a nearby mountain toward his village.

He grabbed his two children and wife and began sprinting to a different nearby mountain, shouting as he ran to warn the other villagers, he said. His 30-year-old niece was running behind him, carrying her 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters. At one point, his niece tried to grab his hand to steady her and her children, he said, but before he could grab her, floodwater crashed over them, carrying them away.

“We returned to the village after midnight to save people, but they were all dead,” Mr. Ayyar said on Saturday. “Everything was flooded. There are three villages in our area where no houses are left; all have been razed by the flood.”

Flooding also killed at least one person in Badakhshan, a mountainous eastern province, where homes, small dams and bridges were destroyed and 2,000 livestock were killed, the provincial diaster management department said.

The provinces of Ghor and Herat, in central and western Afghanistan, were also affected by flooding, according to the Taliban authorities. And doctors were being deployed in Parwan Province — north of Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital — said Hekmatullah Shamim, the spokesman for the province’s governor, though details of the toll there were not immediately available.

Rescue teams were sending food, aid, medical teams and ambulances to the affected areas of Baghlan Province, said Sharafat Zaman, a spokesman for the Health Ministry.

Images published by the government on Saturday showed roads in Baghlan submerged in muddy water, with people trying to move vehicles that had been stuck in the sludge.
Videos from the Burka District of Baghlan Province, verified by The New York Times, showed entire villages submerged in muddy floodwater, with debris from destroyed houses and elsewhere piled up on the villages’ edges. The videos also showed women and children, covered head to toe in thick brown mud, crying out on a hilltop as they looked out over the destruction.

Barkatullah Sulaimani, a school principal in the Haji Wakil village of the Burka District, said on Saturday that when floodwater began rushing through his village, he ran to a hilltop on its outskirts. By about 11 p.m. Friday, he said, about 100 people from Haji Wakil had made it to safety, but nearly every family was missing some relatives. About 200 people from the village were unaccounted for, Mr. Sulaimani said.

Throughout the night, he took calls from people who were not in the village at the time of the flood and were seeking information about missing relatives.

“I told them I don’t see anything but water,” Mr. Sulaimani said. “They are not with us here. Maybe they are dead or alive.” Of their village, only some walls of some houses.

In recent years, Afghanistan has experienced a dire economic crisis, faced a spate of natural disasters, and dealt with the turmoil of war and clashes with its neighbor Pakistan.

The wet conditions this year have been brought on in part by the El Niño phenomenon, raising the risk of floods, which hinder crop production and the flow of food supplies, particularly in the country’s north and northeast, the International Rescue Committee said in a statement last week.

Flash floods from heavy rains inundated much of Afghanistan last month, killing more than 100 people, destroying more than 1,000 homes and ruining more than 60,000 acres of farmland, the group said.

The damage to roads, bridges and the power infrastructure could hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid there, it said. Floods are also economically devastating in a country where at least 80 percent of the population derives its income from agriculture, according to the United Nations.

“Any additional flooding will have a detrimental impact on large swaths of the population,” the International Rescue Committee said, “which are already reeling from an economic collapse, high levels of malnutrition and conflict.”

John Yoon contributed reporting from Seoul.

Flash Flooding in Afghanistan Kills at Least 300, With More Missing
read more

Shia Scholars Demand Non-Discriminatory Governance in Afghanistan

May 13, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
13 May 2024

They said that the Shia people have been cooperative with the caretaker government under all circumstances and will support the Islamic system.

A number of Shia scholars asked the Islamic Emirate to govern Afghanistan without discrimination.

They said that the Shia people have been cooperative with the caretaker government under all circumstances and will support the Islamic system.

These religious scholars expressed their demands in a program titled “The Role of Scholars in the Spiritual Life of Muslims.”

“The leaders of the Islamic Emirate and scholars who are at the helm should think about religion in Afghanistan according to the Islamic system, without discrimination, prejudice, and personal inclinations,” said Bazel, a religious scholar.

“There must be elements and factors for a society to be alive and have a spiritual life,” said Misbah, another religious scholar.

According to them, for the betterment of society, it is necessary for religious scholars and the government to work together collaboratively.

“Both religious scholars and the government have a responsibility that is shared between the scholars and the rulers, which must be fulfilled for the people,” said Ali Dad, a religious scholar.

“If we say that the limits must be enforced, it is the duty of those who can implement God’s decree,” said Sadiq Afghan, another religious scholar.

Aminullah Zahed, head of Vice and Virtue at 18thPD, who was also present at the program, emphasized Islamic veiling in society.

“Currently, some women appear in the market looking like men, their hair and adornments visible from afar,” said Aminullah Zahed, head of Vice and Virtue at 18thPD.

Participants in this program once again emphasized the prevention of evil in the country and called for the creation of job opportunities for the youth.

Shia Scholars Demand Non-Discriminatory Governance in Afghanistan
read more

Japan to offer scholarships to Afghan students in collaboration with Aga Khan Foundation

May 12, 2024
Khaama Press

The Japanese Embassy in Kabul announced the provision of scholarships for Afghan students. It stated that the selection process for these scholarships in 2025 will be conducted in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation.

In a statement published on the social network X on Saturday, May 11, the embassy mentioned that Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology will offer scholarships for master’s and doctoral programs to Afghan students in 2025.

The announcement also states that the selection process for these scholarships will be conducted with the assistance of the Aga Khan Foundation, and proficiency in English or Japanese is a key requirement for participating in this competition.

The number of scholarships to be awarded to Afghan students has not been specified.

Participants in this competition are required to submit their admission applications by the guidelines for government scholarships of this country (MEXT) to the address of this embassy.

Meanwhile, since the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, they have imposed several policies that restrict education in the country, particularly affecting the participation of women and girls in higher education.

These restrictions have been widely criticized internationally as they severely limit educational opportunities and personal growth.

Moreover, the Taliban’s approach to higher education has further isolated Afghan academia from global academic and cultural exchanges, impacting the country’s development and the future prospects of its youth.

This has led to a decrease in the quality of education and a significant reduction in international educational collaborations and scholarship opportunities for Afghan students.

Japan to offer scholarships to Afghan students in collaboration with Aga Khan Foundation
read more

Ministry Signs Contracts for Ruby and Barite Mines

May 12, 2024
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
12 May 2024

Some of the investors who have invested in these mines pledged that the mining processes will also be carried out within the country.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) signed contracts for ruby mines in Jegdalek, Kabul, and barite in Herat with two companies.

Shahabuddin Delawar, the acting minister, stated that these two mines are valued at over $33 million and have been contracted for a period of 15 years.

“The ruby mine is located in Surobi District of Kabul, covering an area of 6.8 square kilometers, with a total investment of $27.5 million on this mine,” the acting minister of Mines and Petroleum added.

Some of the investors who have invested in these mines pledged that the mining processes will also be carried out within the country.

Abdul Rahim, an investor, said: “One of the necessities for oil drilling is barite, which will be extracted and powdered by us in the future to be used in these wells, making us self-sufficient in this field in Afghanistan.”

Several economic experts state that attention to the mining sector and the transparent awarding of contracts significantly impact the country’s economic growth.

Sayed Masoud, an economist, said: “In the mining sector, as it is non-renewable and used only once, it leaves a hole in the ground, which requires special conditions to operate and in fact involves assessing national benefits, regional prices, global issues, and transportation.”

Statistics from the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum indicate that in the solar year 1402, fifteen major mining contracts were signed with domestic and foreign companies.

Ministry Signs Contracts for Ruby and Barite Mines
read more

Expressions of Sympathy, Calls for Assistance Mount for Flood Victims

May 11, 2024
By Mitra Majeedy
Tolo News
11 May 2024

Richard Bennett has described the recent floods in the country as indicative of Afghanistan’s vulnerability to climate change.

Following the flooding in several provinces of the country, the Islamic Emirate has asked the people to cooperate with the caretaker government in aiding the affected individuals.

The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, expressing sympathy with the families of the victims in the provinces of Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan, Ghor, and Herat, stated that in an emergency meeting held to address the damages, directions have been given to the government ministries in charge of disaster response, internal affairs, public health, and local authorities to use all available resources to rescue the people.

Zabihullah Mujahid stated, “The Ministry of Disaster Management, as well as other relevant ministries including the Ministry of Health, have been ordered to fully address the needs of the disaster-stricken areas and to expedite aid to the region.”

Meanwhile, the former president Hamid Karzai, and Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation in the former government, have called on businesses and aid organizations to urgently assist those affected by the floods.

The former President wrote, “I extend my condolences to the families of the victims and hope that aid organizations and national traders will assist the affected families.”

Abdullah Abdullah also wrote about the event, “We expect aid organizations and agencies to rush to assist the victims and strive to provide them with the basic necessities.”

On the other hand, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, the U.S. Special Representative for Human Rights and Women for Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union have also expressed their sympathy for the flood victims in Afghanistan.

Richard Bennett has described the recent floods in the country as indicative of Afghanistan’s vulnerability to climate change.

Bennett said, “Recent floods in Afghanistan including Baghlan which claimed many lives, are a stark reminder of Afghanistan’s vulnerability to the climate crisis & both immediate aid and long term planning by the Taliban & international actors are needed. Condolences to the families of vicitims.”

The US special envoy for Afghan human rights and women, Rina Amiri, has asked the caretaker government to utilize the capabilities of all community members to counter the damage caused by climate change.

Amiri added, “My heart goes out to the victims of the recent flooding in Afghanistan which took numerous lives & caused significant damage. To tackle the ravages of climate change, the Taliban must leverage the power of the entire population & remove crippling restrictions on women & girls.”

Abdul Zuhoor Mudabir, an economic affairs expert, told TOLOnews, “Floods are a natural disaster that can negatively impact the economy, therefore it is the responsibility of the government, donor institutions, and traders not to leave the affected people alone.”

The recent floods in the country have caused extensive casualties and severe financial damage to the citizens. These floods have mostly occurred in remote villages, leaving the people in dire need of assistance as they lose their homes and possessions.

Expressions of Sympathy, Calls for Assistance Mount for Flood Victims
read more

Recent Posts