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Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund report highlights problems tackled
Mohammad Jamal Alsaati, Special Advisor to IsDB President and IsDB Coordinator for Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF), said this week that 14 projects, signed in 2023, have materialized at a total cost of $35.35 million.
He said in a statement issued Sunday that of this, $24.14 was from contributions from AHTF with a further $12.21 million provided by implementing partners and other international organizations.
Alsaati said all the services provided have created job and capacity building opportunities for the people of Afghanistan and that as of March 2024, pledges to the fund totaled almost $35 million, with more funding expected.
Alsaati’s comments were in a statement issued by the Islamic Development Bank, (IsDB), after it released the first comprehensive report on the achievements of the AHTF.
The report highlights the coordinated efforts by the IsDB, its partners, and stakeholders towards “Promoting Self Reliance and Resilience” in Afghanistan.
The AHTF’s mission is to provide initial humanitarian aid but then to prioritize development and self-reliance to move beyond emergency assistance – promoting reconstruction, empowerment and sustainable development.
IsDB President and Group Chairman, Muhammad Al Jasser meanwhile said following the release of the report that after receiving generous contributions, the AHTF “sprung into action, delivering essential aid to Afghanistan’s most vulnerable communities.”
He said the fund was able to tackle food insecurity, offer child nutrition programs, provide healthcare, innovative education, clean water, sanitation and hygiene services.
“Our projects are making a tangible difference on the ground,” Jasser said.
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha also reacted to the report and said: “We are very pleased to see several humanitarian and development-focused projects are underway in Afghanistan – driven by the IsDB in collaboration with its regional and global partners.
“But much work still lies ahead, so we look forward to further help and support from our Member States, in addition to continued financial assistance for the AHTF from international aid and relief agencies,” said Taha.
The fund was established at a Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC on 19th December 2021.
Terrorist activities continue to be observed along Afghanistan borders and along the India–Pakistan–Afghanistan corridor, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on Monday.
Speaking to Russia-based media outlet TV BRICS, Lavrov pointed to ongoing concerns in the Middle East, including its Asian regions.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration with India at the United Nations to advance a global counter-terrorism convention.
Lavrov stated that while the draft convention has already been prepared, consensus on its adoption has not yet been reached.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concern about militant threats from Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has dismissed the concerns saying that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any country.
Noorullah Noori, Afghanistan’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, held a phone conversation with Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, to discuss bilateral border cooperation.
According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening border collaboration, with a particular focus on the ongoing renovation and updating of border markers. They also agreed to accelerate joint technical and legal meetings to enhance coordination.
As part of the agreement, the next meeting of senior border officials from Afghanistan and Iran is scheduled to take place in Iran in 1405 (2026–2027).
The Director General of the OIC Mission in Kabul, Mohammed Saeed Alayyash, met on Sunday with Rolf Dieter Reinhard, Head of the German Liaison Office for Afghanistan in Doha and Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Afghanistan.
During the discussion, both sides exchanged views on the latest developments in Afghanistan. They focused on the security situation, as well as the humanitarian and economic conditions faced by the Afghan people.
The two officials also reviewed recent political developments and broader challenges in the country, highlighting the need for continued international engagement and support.
The meeting emphasized the importance of ongoing cooperation and coordination between the OIC Mission and the German side in addressing Afghanistan’s challenges and in supporting efforts to promote stability and improve the humanitarian situation.
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