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WFP survey finds about 98% of Afghans not getting enough food

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Almost all Afghans do not have enough to eat and a failing economy could tip Afghanistan's increasingly dire situation under Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) rule into catastrophe next year, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday.

A WFP survey found an estimated 98% of Afghans are not eating enough food, with seven in 10 families resorting to borrowing food, which pushes them deeper into poverty, a spokesperson for the agency told reporters.

The abrupt withdrawal of foreign aid following the IEA victory in August has left Afghanistan's fragile economy on the brink of collapse, with prices for food, fuel and other basic staples rising rapidly out of reach for many people.

"The spiralling economic crisis, the conflict and drought has meant the average family can now barely cope," Tomson Phiri told a Geneva briefing. "We have a huge amount to do to stop this crisis from becoming a catastrophe."

WFP has provided food assistance to 15 million Afghans so far in 2021, and to seven million in November alone. Next year, it plans to ramp up its assistance to 23 million people across all provinces in Afghanistan.

"We cannot waste any moment," Phiri said. "Our country director describes the situation as quite dire. She says it's 'an avalanche of hunger and destitution'."

Separately, Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Afghan families face "severe poverty and hunger" with many pushed into desperate measures, including child labour, early marriage and "even the sale of children."

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Khalilzad ‘agrees’ that mistreatment of Afghan migrants in Pakistan must stop

In a statement on X, Khalilzad said: “I agree, the Pakistan authorities must stop the illegal mistreatment and deportation of Afghan refugees.”

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Washington’s former special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has urged Pakistan to stop the mistreatment and forced deportation of Afghan migrants.

In a statement on X, Khalilzad said: "I agree, the Pakistan authorities must stop the illegal mistreatment and deportation of Afghan refugees."

At the same time, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad has expressed concern about the arrest of around 800 Afghan citizens in Islamabad.

The embassy said in a statement that the detained people include holders of valid visas and PoR and ACC cards.

"The lack of clarity regarding the conditions for obtaining NOC has led to alarming cases of arbitrary detention and deportation," the statement said.

"Among the deported people, 137 people include those whose visas have expired but have already applied for its extension."

The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad has also said that SHARP/UNHCR temporary registration card holders are also among the deportees.

"The Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is particularly concerned about the reports of unnecessary arrests, house raids and extortion of Afghan nationals. We request the government of Pakistan to address these serious concerns urgently."

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Iran will use ‘all means’ to restore water rights from Afghanistan

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Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday Tehran will use all means to restore its water rights from Afghanistan and that the Islamic Emirate should take the issue seriously.

Ismail Baqaei, the spokesman for the foreign ministry, said in response to a question at a press conference on the construction of water dams in Afghanistan, that Tehran has been following the issue closely for some time now and has lodged objections to the issue of dams being built in Afghanistan, IRNA news agency reported.

“It is clear that the waters that have flowed from Afghanistan to Iran for thousands or millions of years create rights for parties on both sides of the border,” Baqaei said, adding that there is a specific agreement in this regard.

"We will use all means to restore rights in this regard," he added.

The official also said that Iran’s acting ambassador in Kabul is following up on the issue of water rights.

The issue of water rights has been a source of tension between Afghanistan and Iran over the past few years.

Recently, Fida Hossein Maliki, a member of Iran’s parliament, expressed concern about the construction of water dams in Afghanistan and said that this issue is questionable.

He said that the current rulers of Afghanistan are treating neighboring countries, including Iran, in a way that has not been seen in the past.

The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly emphasized that it is committed to ensuring Iran's rights in accordance with the 1973 treaty, but Iran must also consider that the country is dealing with a drought.

Baqaei’s comments on Monday, follow close on the heels of his remarks Friday when he underscored the critical need for cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan to maintain the natural flow of water in shared border rivers.

He also noted Iran’s long-standing role in hosting millions of Afghan nationals over the past five decades. These enduring ties, he said, underscore the importance of mutual respect and collaboration in addressing shared challenges.

On Friday, Baqaei called on Afghanistan to respect these rights and cooperate in ensuring the continued flow of water.

"The principle of good neighborliness should guide our efforts," Baqaei stated, adding that equitable use of shared water resources is essential for the well-being of both nations.

Recently, Afghanistan's rulers announced they had begun filling the Pashdan Dam, located near Herat on the Harirud River.

The development adds to long-standing disputes over the Helmand River, which dates back to the 19th century.

Although a 1939 treaty was drafted to address water sharing, it was never ratified by Afghanistan, leading to protracted disputes.

In 1973, the two nations agreed that Afghanistan would allow a flow of 26 cubic meters per second—equivalent to 820 million cubic meters annually—into Iran.

 

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India condemns Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan

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India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Monday condemned Pakistan's recent airstrikes on Afghanistan, which caused civilian casualties.

 “We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.

“We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. We have also noted the response of an Afghan spokesperson in this regard,” he added.

Nearly two weeks ago, bombardment by Pakistani military aircraft in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province killed at least 46 people, most of whom were children and women.

The Islamic Emirate said it retaliated targeting several points across the Durand Line.

 

 

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