Latest News
FAO, World Bank step up response to Afghanistan’s food security crisis
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) welcomed an unprecedented $150 million contribution from the World Bank to provide critical livelihood and life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable rural populations in Afghanistan.
High levels of acute food insecurity persist across Afghanistan due to a combination of a collapsing economy and continuing drought, the FAO reported.
The ripple effects from the war in Ukraine are exacerbating the food security situation, pushing food prices to new highs, increasing the costs of vital agricultural inputs, especially fertilizer, and placing pressure on countries in the region supplying wheat to Afghanistan to restrict food exports, giving priority to their respective domestic consumption.
The new Afghanistan Emergency Food Security Project will boost the production of food crops for smallholder Afghan farmers and prevent the further deterioration of food security, the FAO stated.
This is the first tranch of a total amount of $195 million, another $45 million will be released within the next 24 months.
“We are grateful to the World Bank and its Members for the generous and timely contribution”, said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu .
“It is a historic moment for poor farmers in Afghanistan, and it represents an important milestone in our collective efforts to deliver results at scale, avert a looming catastrophe and make real transformative differences in the lives of vulnerable people”.
FAO will be the sole implementing partner for the funding and will focus on wheat production, supporting about 2.1 million people, and will provide focussed support on the nutritional needs of children, people with disabilities or chronic illness, and households headed by women by providing seeds and basic tools for backyard kitchen gardening and technical training on improved nutrition and climate-smart production practices.
Almost 1 million people will benefit from this support and these inputs, particularly targeting rural women.
FAO stated that 150,000 women will receive training on improved cultivation techniques and nutrition.
The project will also increase access to irrigation water, and improve soil and water conservation.
Under this component, more than 1.9 million people will benefit from cash for work activities for the restoration of irrigation infrastructure and watershed management.
The FAO food security project is one of the three projects totalling $793 million approved by the World Bank to provide urgent and essential livelihood and health services, in addition to food assistance, to the people of Afghanistan.
Latest News
Hanafi urges Afghan traders in Tashkent to take part in Afghanistan’s growth
Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdul Salam Hanafi has encouraged Afghan traders and investors based in Uzbekistan to take advantage of the investment opportunities in Afghanistan in order to support the nation’s growth and development, Arg said in a statement.
According to the statement, Hanafi, who is currently visiting the neighboring country, said this was especially applicable to mining, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing.
In a meeting that was held late Monday at the Afghan Embassy in Tashkent, Hanafi said Afghanistan is a shared home for all Afghans, where everyone has the right to live in peace and security.
Hanafi said that following the general amnesty decree, there are no security or political issues in Afghanistan, and the security situation is stable.
He also highlighted the available opportunities and facilities for trade and investment in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Afghan traders living in Tashkent said that officials of the Islamic Emirate always listen to their ideas, suggestions and problems and help solve them.
They did however ask for efforts to be made to ease certain processes relating to the trade of goods between the two countries.
Latest News
Mining minister tells Badakhshan authorities to stamp out illegal mining
Mullah Hidayatullah Badri, the acting minister of mines and petroleum, has called on local officials to help stop illegal mining and the smuggling of the country’s minerals.
During a trip to Badakhshan with Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces he met with the province’s deputy governor and called on him to help stop the scourge.
He said the ministry has drawn up comprehensive guidelines on “gold washing” and mining, adding that prospectors and miners can apply for licenses through the Badakhshan Mines and Petroleum Directorate and operate according to the law.
He also said illegal mining will not be tolerated and legal action will be taken against anyone who violates the law.
Latest News
Iran steps up efforts to tighten security along border with Afghanistan, Pakistan
Tehran’s plan to block the eastern border will eventually consist of a 300 km-long wall along with the use of advanced technology and precise military drills
Iran’s border security operations along its shared border with Afghanistan and Pakistan have been ramped up with 65 kms of the border wall already having been completed.
According to Iran media, Tehran’s plan to block the eastern border will eventually consist of a 300 km-long wall along with the use of advanced technology and precise military drills.
On November 2, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said Iran would complete construction of a border wall along its eastern frontiers by the end of September next year.
The first phase of the border-sealing initiative spans approximately 90 kilometers and commenced at the end of June.
The border blockade includes physical barriers, such as barbed wire and cement walls as well as smart technology that include radar systems.
Last month, Tehran Times reported that during a visit to the city of Mirjaveh, the primary crossing point between Iran and Pakistan,Momeni said the first phase of the border-sealing initiative spans approximately 90 kms and work commenced at the end of June.
He stated, "Based on our projections, this border-blocking project is expected to be completed in the first half of the next Iranian year."
Momeni stressed that an unsealed border allows deported illegal immigrants to easily return. He said: “The plan to secure the border will tackle this issue and improve regional security.”
Amir Na’mati, Deputy Commander of Iran’s Army Ground Forces, meanwhile gave more information this week and said significant progress will be made on the project by the end of the solar year (April).
Systems such as surveillance sensors, reconnaissance drones, and thermal cameras are set to be deployed, he said. Additionally, mobile assault battalions are tasked with maintaining constant border control.
Wanaen meanwhile reported that Iranian Army rapid reaction forces are currently conducting complex security drills which include tasks to identify terrorist gathering spots using advanced Mohajer-6 drones, destroying their command vehicles with highly explosive precision bombs (Qaem), and shelling enemy positions with artillery.
Amir Cheshk, Deputy Operations Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Forces, said: “Based on international agreements, any threatening gatherings that endanger the security of the Islamic Republic (Iran) will be met with a decisive response from the Army Ground Forces and Iran’s armed forces.”
In addition, special forces supported by Army Aviation helicopters, are dispatched to terrorist gathering locations and carry out high-precision clearance operations.
-
Latest News5 days ago
Pakistan’s First Lady: World should not dictate to IEA, but opt engagement
-
World5 days ago
Iran, Europeans meet to test diplomacy with Trump term looming
-
Sport4 days ago
Bangladesh trumps Afghanistan in first match of U-19 Asia Cup
-
Latest News5 days ago
CSTO calls for inclusive government in Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days ago
Six countries refer Afghanistan’s women’s rights violations to ICC
-
Science & Technology4 days ago
Australia’s under-16 social media ban sparks anger and relief
-
Latest News3 days ago
Over 12,000 Afghans entered Brazil with humanitarian visas in last three years: UNHCR
-
Latest News4 days ago
Former German FM blames lack of US coordination for chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan