The German development organization (GIZ), in a statement announced restructuring its operations in Afghanistan, GIZ announced that it will implement projects exclusively through non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While existing and commissioned projects will continue, GIZ emphasized that starting in 2025, it will no longer employ its own national staff in Afghanistan.

The organization stated that, since August 2021 the situation for many people in Afghanistan has changed drastically and the population is facing hunger and poverty.

“People need support to cover their most basic needs,” the statement read.

The statement further stated that, its efforts in Afghanistan will focus on supporting the local population with essential services. “This includes improving self-sufficiency in poorer urban and rural communities, training midwives and women health professionals, and supporting women entrepreneurs and women-led organizations.”

GIZ has been operating in Afghanistan since 2002, contributing to sectors such as healthcare, education, and basic services.

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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, addressing the 24th meeting of the heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), on Thursday said that, all countries should unite to prevent Afghanistan from ever again becoming a hotbed of terrorism.

Guterres also emphasized necessity of peace in Afghanistan and the establishment of an inclusive government that upholds human rights.

“We need peace in Afghanistan, and an inclusive government that respects human rights and is integrated into the international community,” said Guterres.

Guterres affirmed the U.N.’s readiness to collaborate with the Shanghai Cooperation Council in combating terrorism globally.

He told the Council of the SCO that, the world’s largest regional security body that includes Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

“The Shanghai Cooperation Council – the largest regional organization in the world – has the power and the responsibility to push for peace,” added Guterres.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised the issue of terrorism as a major concern for member states at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and called for “meaningful” engagement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).

Sharif also said that, the Islamic Emirate must also “take concrete measures” to ensure its soil is not used for terrorism against any other state.

The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied the claims and stressed that it will not allow Afghanistan’s territory to be used against other countries.

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The Embassy of Japan in Kabul announced on Thursday Tokyo is providing $10 million to support alternative livelihoods for former poppy farmers in Afghanistan.

The funds, administered through the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Afghanistan, will also support drug use prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration services for the most vulnerable communities.

The targeted provinces for this aid are Badakhshan, Helmand, and Kandahar.

Yōko Kamikawa, Japan’s Foreign Minister, received a courtesy call from Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, who is visiting Japan for the 11th Japan-UNODC Strategic Policy Dialogue.

“Prior to the meeting, the two sides signed and exchanged notes for the Grant Aid ‘The Project for Strengthening Counter-narcotics Capacities in Afghanistan (grant amount: 1.514 billion yen),” the statement read.

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