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UNHCR warns of looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan

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(Last Updated On: July 13, 2021)
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has warned of a looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as the escalating conflict brings increased human suffering and civilian displacement.
 
An estimated 270,000 Afghans have been newly displaced inside the country since January 2021 – primarily due to insecurity and violence –  bringing the total uprooted population to over 3.5 million, the UNHCR said in a statement Tuesday.
 
Families forced to flee their homes in recent weeks cite the worsening security situation as the predominant reason for their flight.
 
In addition to ongoing fighting, displaced civilians have told UNHCR and partners of incidents of extortion by non-state armed groups and the presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on major roads. Many have reported interruptions to social services and a loss of income due to rising insecurity.
 
The number of civilian casualties has risen 29 percent during the first quarter of this year compared to 2020, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). An increasing proportion of women and children were among those targeted.  
 
The needs of those who have had to flee suddenly are acute, UNHCR said in the statement adding that the organization and its partners are assisting newly displaced Afghans with emergency shelter, food, health, water and sanitation support and cash assistance.
 
The UNHCR also warned that a failure to reach a peace agreement in Afghanistan and stem the current violence will lead to further displacement within the country, as well as to neighbouring countries and beyond.
 
The organization in turn called on the international community to step up support to the Afghan government and the people at this critical moment, in a spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing.
 
“Humanitarian resources are currently falling dramatically short. UNHCR’s financial appeal for the Afghanistan situation (including operations for Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran) remains acutely underfunded, at only 43 percent of a total $337 million required,” the statement read.

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Afghan, Turkmen officials discuss early completion of Herat Noorul Jihad substation

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(Last Updated On: April 30, 2024)

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) leadership has met with a delegation from Turkmenistan to discuss the completion and inauguration of the new Herat Noorul Jihad substation.

At the meeting, Mawlawi Abdul Rahman Rahmani, Chief Operating Officer of DABS, provided an update on the progress of the substation and said work on the project is almost complete.

It was agreed that the substation will be operational once all remaining technical issues between the two parties are resolved.

Murad Artikov, Turkmenistan’s Head of International Projects, commended DABS for its cooperation in the construction of the Noorul Jihad substation, and expressed confidence that the project will be completed in the near future.

He also said that a protocol outlining equipment and technical matters will be finalized by both parties.

Upon the completion of this project, the import of electricity from Turkmenistan to Herat is expected to increase, benefiting thousands of new customers in the province.

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Tehran ‘ready to help’ IEA fight terrorism after Herat mosque shooting

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(Last Updated On: April 30, 2024)

Iran’s embassy in Kabul has announced Tehran is ready to work with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to fight terrorism.

This came just hours after a gunman opened fire on worshipers at a mosque in Herat province. At least six people are believed to have been killed in the shooting – which the Iranian embassy labeled a “terrorist incident”.

The embassy said it wants the perpetrators identified and punished.

Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesman of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior, said the incident happened on Monday night in Herat province, in the Shahrak area of Guzara District, when an unknown gunman opened fire on worshipers with an AK-47.

Qani said six people died and one was wounded.

He stated that further details would be released later.

So far, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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IEA’s deputy prime minister meets with Chinese ambassador

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(Last Updated On: April 30, 2024)

China’s ambassador to Kabul Zhao Xing, said in a meeting with Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the administrative deputy prime minister of the Islamic Emirate, that relations between the two countries were unique on a regional level and that China wants to expand these relations as much as possible in the political, economic and cultural fields.

Zhao said in order to further strengthen relations between the two countries, China provides scholarships to Afghan students and also organizes short-term training courses to improve the capacity of Afghans.

In addition to expressing his sympathy to the victims of the recent flash floods in the country, the Chinese ambassador also announced his country’s offer of $100,000 in aid to flood victims.

Hanafi in turn described relations between the two countries as historical and emphasized the need to keep expanding these ties.

He also said the IEA appreciates China’s position regarding the Islamic Emirate in international forums and said that the Islamic Emirate supports China’s policy and Beijing’s economic projects such as One Belt and One Road.

Hanafi added that the Islamic Emirate wants good relations with all countries and does not allow anyone to use Afghanistan’s soil against other countries.

He said the IEA expects other countries to treat Afghanistan based on mutual respect.

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