Latest News
EU provides 13 million euros for malnutrition treatment and education in Afghanistan
Over 78,000 children in Afghanistan will benefit from additional funding for nutrition and Education in Emergencies from the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), UNICEF said in a statement.
The European Union has provided 13 million euros for malnutrition treatment and community-based education in Afghanistan, the United Nations’ children agency (UNICEF) announced Sunday.
Over 78,000 children in Afghanistan will benefit from additional funding for nutrition and Education in Emergencies from the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), UNICEF said in a statement.
With this €13 million contribution, UNICEF will procure 62,000 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and train 1,600 health workers to treat severe acute malnutrition among children under five. Additionally, UNICEF will improve the quality of learning in 275 community-based education classes to enable 9,500 children (61 per cent girls) to access primary education.
In Afghanistan, 23.7 million people – over half of them children – require humanitarian assistance this year. In 2024, nearly 2.9 million children are expected to face acute malnutrition. More than 850,000 of them will need treatment for severe acute malnutrition – a life-threatening condition, UNICEF said.
Education in Afghanistan also remains in crisis. According to the 2023 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, more than half of children do not attend primary school.
“The malnutrition rates in Afghanistan – especially amongst children – show that Afghanistan is facing an emergency. The EU will continue to work with longstanding humanitarian partners like UNICEF to provide urgently needed support, including nutrition and education in emergencies. Even amidst one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, children have the right to quality education that will help them build a better future,” said François Goemans, Head of EU humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.
The two-year intervention will target about 69,000 children under the age of five for malnutrition treatment across 27 provinces of Afghanistan. It will help nearly 9,500 children and adolescents in four provinces continue their education through community-based learning, developing foundational skills, including social and emotional competencies for positive psychological development. The project will also enable emergency teaching and learning supplies to be delivered to children in need across all 34 provinces.
“We appreciate the continued partnership with EU humanitarian aid, which will help us get RUTF into some of the nutrition treatment facilities where children are most in need and train the frontline health workers administering this treatment in communities,” said Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “This funding will also enable children to continue attending community-based education classes and provide the materials students and educators need for a successful classroom.”
In the past four years, EU humanitarian aid has allowed UNICEF to provide safe water systems, community-based education, life-saving child protection and health services, emergency cash transfers, and malnutrition treatment for children.
Latest News
Human Rights Watch calls Pakistani airstrike on Kabul rehab center ‘unlawful’
Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said available evidence suggests the strike hit a well-known civilian medical facility.
Human Rights Watch has condemned a recent Pakistani airstrike on a rehabilitation facility in Kabul, calling it “unlawful” and warning it could amount to a war crime.
The strike, which reportedly took place on March 16, targeted the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Center, located within the former Camp Phoenix complex in eastern Kabul. According to international agencies, at least 143 people were killed and more than 250 others injured, most of them patients undergoing treatment.
Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said available evidence suggests the strike hit a well-known civilian medical facility.
“The available evidence indicates that the Pakistani airstrike against a well-known Kabul medical facility killing dozens of patients was unlawful,” she said, adding that authorities must determine why the site was targeted and who should be held accountable.
An employee of the center told the organization that three buildings were struck, including a dining hall, a residential building housing hundreds of patients, and a guard post. At the time of the attack, more than 1,000 patients were reportedly at the facility, many gathered to break their fast during Ramadan.
Human Rights Watch said satellite imagery and visual evidence show extensive destruction across the compound, with multiple structures either destroyed or severely damaged. The organization added that it found no indication the facility was being used for military purposes.
Under international humanitarian law, medical facilities are afforded special protection. The group stressed that attacks failing to distinguish between civilian and military targets, or those causing disproportionate civilian harm, may constitute serious violations of the laws of war.
Human Rights Watch has called on Pakistan to carry out a prompt, impartial investigation and ensure accountability if violations are confirmed.
Latest News
Torkham crossing closes again hours after brief reopening
Officials say the reason for the sudden closure has not been clearly communicated by authorities in Pakistan.
The key border crossing at Torkham crossing has once again been shut down, just hours after it was temporarily reopened, according to local officials in Nangarhar province.
Sediqullah Quraishi, head of information at the provincial Department of Information and Culture, said that on Thursday the Pakistani side allowed the crossing to open briefly to Afghan migrants. However, the crossing was closed again shortly afterward, leaving many travelers stranded.
Officials say the reason for the sudden closure has not been clearly communicated by authorities in Pakistan.
The Torkham crossing serves as one of the most important transit points between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its repeated closures have caused significant disruption, particularly for migrants, traders, and families who rely on cross-border movement.
Latest News
Turkey invites IEA’s commerce minister to Antalya Diplomacy Forum
Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met on Thursday with Sadin Ayyıldız, Chargé d’Affaires of the Turkish Embassy in Kabul. During the meeting, Ayyıldız invited the Minister of Industry and Commerce to participate in Turkey’s Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry, the meeting also emphasized the economic, trade, and historical relations between Kabul and Ankara, as well as the export of Afghan goods to Turkey.
The two sides discussed increasing trade volume between the two countries, strengthening economic relations, facilitating and enhancing commercial activities, cooperation in road transport along various routes, activating the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, and regional cooperation.
Azizi, while thanking Turkey for inviting the Islamic Emirate to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, introduced the Ministry’s technical team to ensure better coordination and planning.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum is an international conference held annually in Turkey, aimed at examining global challenges and finding joint solutions through dialogue and diplomacy. It hosts representatives from more than 100 countries, including presidents, leaders, high-ranking officials, international organizations, analysts, and media from various countries.
-
Latest News5 days agoDeadly violence likely without dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan: ICG
-
Latest News4 days agoPakistan seeks Russian mediation to resolve Afghanistan tensions
-
Business5 days agoAfghani strengthens nearly 10% against US dollar amid banking sector reforms
-
Latest News4 days agoWorld must re-engage to prevent all-out Afghanistan-Pakistan war: Financial Times
-
Sport3 days agoAfghanistan squad hit by withdrawals ahead of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
-
Latest News3 days agoAround 2.3 million tourists visited Afghanistan’s recreational areas during Eid: Ghufran
-
Latest News3 days agoIslamic Emirate releases American prisoner Dennis Coyle
-
Latest News5 days agoPakistani military violates Afghanistan ceasefire again
