Latest News
Guterres says Doha meeting was not about recognizing IEA
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday stressed that the meeting in Doha on Afghanistan had not been aimed at recognizing the Islamic Emirate.
Speaking in a press conference after the two-day meeting of 20 countries’ envoys, Guterres said he was open to meeting IEA officials when it was the “right moment to do so, but today is not the right moment.”
In the meeting, participants expressed concerns over the presence of terrorist groups, lack of inclusivity, humanitarian situation and recent IEA decisions against girls and women, Guterres said.
He maintained that the United Nations will stay in Afghanistan to deliver aid to millions of desperate Afghans despite the IEA’s restrictions on its female staff, but funding is drying up.
Guterres also said concerns over Afghanistan’s stability were growing.
“Throughout the past decades, we stayed and we delivered, and we are determined to seek the necessary conditions to keep delivering. Humanitarian aid is a fragile lifeline for millions of Afghans. The United Nations will not waiver in our commitment to support the people of Afghanistan,” Guterres said.
The ban on female Afghan UN staff signaled by IEA last month was a violation of human rights, he said.
“We will never be silent in the face of unprecedented systemic attacks on women’s and girls’ rights,” he said.
He warned of a severe shortfall in financial pledges for its humanitarian appeal this year, which is just over 6% funded, falling short of the $4.6 billion requested for a country in which most of the population live in poverty.
IEA says it respects women’s rights in accordance with Sharia law and that Afghanistan’s territory would not be used for militancy or violence against other nations.
Afghanistan’s acting minister of public health Dr Qalandar Ebad, along with other officials, visited a number of flood-hit villages in Baghlan province on Tuesday.
The officials assessed damage in the villages of Sai Hazara and Gharo in the Guzargah district.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, Ebad inspected “vulnerable areas affected by recent floods and, expressing sympathy with the local people, promised that the leadership of the Ministry of Public Health will spare no effort to provide health services to those in need.”
Ebad also expressed gratitude for the efforts of healthcare workers and their commitment to helping people in need.
He directed officials to make every effort “to improve the health status of patients affected by recent floods in the villages of Sai Hazara and Gharo, Baghlan province”.
Based on official figures, more than 300 people have died as a result of floods in Baghlan province and over 1,600 others have been injured.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Monday that continued interventions by the US into the internal affairs of Afghanistan will complicate the country’s situation.
In a meeting in Tehran with the head of the UN in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran closely follows the developments in Afghanistan and supports stability, security, and sustainable development in the neighboring country.
He also said Iran supports the role of the United Nations in helping the people of Afghanistan.
According to Iran’s Mehr News, Amir-Abdollahian raised the issue of Afghan nationals in Iran and urged the UN to address the situation.
He also reportedly criticized the US for its “destructive role in Afghanistan during its presence in the country”, noting that the continuation of targeted interventions by the US in the internal affairs of Afghanistan will complicate the situation further.
Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the need for diverse and multi-layered solutions to Afghanistan’s complex problems, Mehr News reported.
Otunbayeva in turn explained the latest developments and issues in Afghanistan and the upcoming Doha meeting in Qatar.
She also stressed the need to coordinate the diverse positions of regional players to help with the development and stability of the country.
Afghanistan is facing another set back at the United Nations after its General Assembly voting rights were suspended due to unpaid fees.
Nasir Faiq, who has acted as Afghanistan’s representative at the UN says that failure to settle outstanding dues since the Islamic Emirate’s takeover in August 2021 led to the organization’s decision.
As a result, Afghanistan was unable to exercise its right to vote at the recent General Assembly vote concerning the recognition of the State of Palestine.
Six KPL cricket teams snap up 15 players each in this year’s draft
Acting health minister visits flood-stricken villages in Baghlan
Iranian FM warns US interventions in Afghanistan ‘complicating situation’
Afghanistan loses UN voting rights over unpaid dues
UN says Gaza death toll still over 35,000 but not all bodies identified
Commerce ministry inks 10 MoUs to boost development of small and medium-sized businesses
Rashid Khan threatens BBL pullout after Australia postpones Afghanistan T20I series
Afghanistan announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rashid Khan named AWCC’s brand ambassador
Balkh health officials report sharp increase in number of cancer patients
Tahawol: Uzbek delegation’s visit to Kabul discussed
Saar: UNAMA head’s meeting with Iranian officials discussed
Tahawol: Efforts to address families affected by floods
Floods & people’s behavior on this natural phenomenon discussed
Tahawol: Devastating floods in Baghlan & Takhar discussed
-
World4 days agoIsrael strikes eastern Rafah as ceasefire talks end with no deal
-
Science & Technology4 days agoTikTok to label AI-generated content from OpenAI and elsewhere
-
Regional4 days agoTurkey says it killed 17 Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, Syria
-
Latest News4 days agoIran says work underway to block eastern border with Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoPakistan rejects IEA’s allegations of Daesh using its territory against Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoFloods leave 50 dead in Baghlan
-
World4 days agoIreland and Spain could recognise Palestinian state on May 21, RTE News reports
-
Latest News3 days agoHundreds killed and injured in floods in four Afghan provinces