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Bayat Foundation launches its winter aid program in Kabul
Bayat Foundation launched its winter aid program in Kabul, delivering food essentials to dozens of needy families in the western part of the city.
Foundation officials said they aim to provide aid to desperate families suffering from enormous hardships and hunger amid record low temperatures.
“This is part of Bayat Foundation’s winter aid [program] which is launched every year; fortunately this year we launched our aid [program] and are providing wheat flour, rice and cooking oil to needy people in west Kabul. The aid will soon reach other parts of Kabul and other provinces as well,” said Haji Mohammad Ismail, deputy head of Bayat Foundation.
Recipients thanked Bayat Foundation for the aid, and said they hope it will continue in the future. They also said they had been desperate for the supplies as they had no food in their homes.
“I would like to thank the Bayat Foundation for the aid. It will solve people’s problems. The people in west Kabul are very poor,” a recipient said.
“Bayat Foundation supports orphans and poor people. We hope it will continue to help them,” another recipient said.
The coordinator for helping distribute aid in west Kabul, Mohammad Hadi Hani said: “The aid is significant for the people in PD 13. I would like to thank the Bayat Foundation. I hope they will continue to help poor people here.”
Bayat Foundation delivers aid to needy people every winter. Officials say people in other provinces will also receive aid during this winter.
The aid comes at a critical time for Afghans who are not only dealing with widespread poverty but also with an exceptionally cold winter.
According to the latest figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 28 million people in Afghanistan are affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Al Jazeera meanwhile reported that climate scientists have attributed the recent weather anomalies to polar vortex disruptions, as a result of which, strong arctic winds flow much farther from the North Pole and bring masses of cold air to our region.
According to Najibullah Sadid, an Afghan climate expert and associate researcher at the University of Stuttgart, prediction models estimated that the cold wave would last until the end of January or the first week of February, before the weather returns to average conditions.
“Afghanistan, like other countries, is witnessing a rise in the number of extreme events. This is much to do with climate change as more sun energy is observed by the Earth’s atmosphere that in turn increases the dynamic of atmospheric activities such as heatwaves, rapid rains, etc,” he said, adding that a lack of preparedness for such events could have disastrous consequences for Afghans, Al Jazeera reported.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake’s epicenter was reported in Jurm district of Badakhshan province, with a depth of 208.3 kilometers.
So far, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage following the tremor.
Shahabuddin Delawar, Head of the Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities, says Afghanistan has achieved security, unified governance, brotherhood, and progress for the first time in 47 years under the administration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Speaking at a meeting in Kabul on Saturday, Delawar said Afghanistan had lacked a unified system over the past four decades, but added that with the return of the Islamic Emirate, the issue has now been resolved.
Referring to Ashura commemorations held on Friday, he said the occasion was observed peacefully across the country under full security.
Delawar also urged exiled Afghan politicians to return, saying the commission was established to serve Afghans and address the concerns of returning figures. He added that any legal disputes involving returnees would be handled exclusively through the commission.
He further said the Islamic Emirate has expanded treatment centers and intensified anti-narcotics efforts since regaining power, claiming this has led to a significant decline in drug addiction.
Addressing the issue of international legitimacy, Delawar said he understood why the United States has not recognized the Islamic Emirate, arguing that Washington suffered a defeat in Afghanistan that it cannot easily overlook.
“They have suffered a major defeat that they cannot forget; if they recognize us, they will face questions from their own people,” Delawar said.
The European Union says it is implementing hundreds of millions of euros in projects to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Afghanistan and help expand economic opportunities across the country.
Speaking to Ariana News, EU Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul, Veronika Boskovic Pohar, said the programs are aimed at creating jobs for skilled workers, women, youth, and returnees, while also strengthening the private sector. She added that alongside international support, Afghan authorities also have a role in facilitating economic growth.
According to Pohar, the EU is currently implementing projects worth €156 million focused on livelihoods, durable solutions, job creation, and women’s economic empowerment. She said an additional €40 million program specifically designed to support returnees will be launched in the near future.
She noted that the EU is gradually shifting its focus from emergency humanitarian aid toward long-term sustainable solutions, particularly for internally displaced people and returnees in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the United Nations, marking World Day of Small and Medium Enterprises, said SMEs account for more than 90 percent of businesses worldwide and play a critical role in employment and economic growth.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stressed that stronger investment, innovation, and sustainable industrial development are essential to help businesses withstand economic challenges and build resilient economies.
Afghan private sector representatives and economic analysts say greater support for SMEs could help the country address economic challenges faster, increase employment, and promote sustainable long-term development.
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