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Key UN agency gets only ‘small budget’ for Afghanistan this year
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expresses concern that the international community has provided only a small budget for the continuation of aid programs in Afghanistan for the current year, and the lack of funds has threatened to suspend the continuation of most programs.
OCHA published a report on Sunday and said that more than $3 billion was requested for the continuation of humanitarian programs in Afghanistan in 2024, but only a small part of it has been provided so far.
This United Nations agency said: "In 2023, humanitarian partners in Afghanistan provided assistance in some way to at least 32.1 million people. But in 2024, only $87 million of the $3.06 billion budget was received for the plan to meet humanitarian needs, which has put the continuation of many programs at risk."
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that last year due to budget cuts, the organization was forced to stop providing food aid to 18 million Afghans.
OCHA said in the report that from January to December 2023, humanitarian aid donors provided food and alternative livelihoods to 26.3 million Afghans and health services to 16.5 million people.
The United Nations has announced that a total of 32.1 million people received aid in 2023, with 27.6 million directly benefiting. The organization has spent $1.47 billion in 2023 for its programs, including $850 million from the 2022 budget.
Prolonged settlement, widespread presence of explosives, continued restrictions on women's rights and freedoms, increased gender-based violence, child labor, early marriages, climate change, especially earthquakes and droughts, the return of millions of migrants from Pakistan and internally displaced persons, Ocha said. Afghanistan remains primarily a security crisis, the agency said.
According to the United Nations humanitarian aid plan in 2024, more than half of Afghanistan's population will need humanitarian aid in some way.
The United Nations has emphasized that among all the needy, 17.3 million of the most vulnerable people, including those with disabilities, are covered by the aid mission.
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G7 envoys urge national dialogue for lasting stability in Afghanistan
Special Representatives of the Group of Seven (G7), including the European Union, have emphasized the importance of a national dialogue for achieving long-term stability in Afghanistan.
Following a meeting on Afghanistan in Geneva, Switzerland, G7 special envoys issued a joint statement calling for the restoration of women's rights and urging the Islamic Emirate to fight terrorism.
The statement reads: "Achieving sustainable peace and stability requires credible governance that represents all segments of Afghan society."
The representatives also expressed concern over the IEA’s decision to ban girls from attending medical institutes, warning that it will have devastating consequences for the citizens, particularly mothers and their infants.
The statement described this ban as unacceptable and called on the Afghan authorities to lift it immediately.
Earlier, countries and international organizations had called for the removal of restrictions on the education and employment of women and girls, emphasizing the need for a national dialogue.
In response to these concerns, IEA has repeatedly stated that it will not allow interference in the internal affairs of the country.
The G7 special envoys also expressed their concern about the recent terrorist attacks in Kabul and the surrounding region, warning that terrorism remains a serious threat to Afghanistan's security. They confirmed the actions of the IEA against Daesh but stressed the need for more decisive measures.
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Afghanistan’s bright future lies in educating girls: Karzai
Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, says the demand of Afghan girls for the reopening of schools and universities is their fundamental right and adds that Afghanistan cannot have a bright future without ensuring access to education for girls.
In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Karzai said: "The demand and voice of our country’s girls for education and knowledge is a rightful one and crucial for a prosperous Afghanistan."
He further emphasized, "Empowering the youth—both girls and boys—is the only way to achieve self-reliance, break the cycle of poverty, and drive the development and prosperity of society."
Karzai underscored that education is vital for Afghanistan’s growth and development, expressing hope that the doors of schools and universities for girls will be reopened as soon as possible.
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IEA to set up special courts to address pensions
Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has issued a decree to establish special courts to address pensions, Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.
According to the decree, the courts must confirm and process pensions in accordance with Sharia and law.
Pensioners have repeatedly voiced concern over delay in payment, saying that their financial challenges are growing.
Earlier this year, IEA's supreme leader banned money being deducted from salaries of government employees for pensions.
He also requested information on the tenure of employees and the total amount deducted from salaries for pensions.
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