The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is expanding support for women and girls across Afghanistan through healthcare, cash assistance, vocational training and economic empowerment programs.

In a report titled “Afghanistan: Supporting Women and Girls to Thrive Despite Challenges,” the organization highlighted efforts to improve maternal health, combat malnutrition and create economic opportunities for vulnerable women.

In partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), the ICRC provides six months of cash assistance and nutrition guidance to pregnant and breastfeeding women. The program reached 1,400 women across four provinces in 2026.

The organization also supports 47 ARCS healthcare centers, which provided more than 800,000 outpatient consultations for women between June 2025 and July 2026. Services included more than 980 deliveries, 111,000 antenatal consultations and 39,000 postnatal consultations.

Economic empowerment is another focus, with 437 women and girls with disabilities receiving vocational training and 101 benefiting from interest-free loans during the same period. More than 33,800 also received physiotherapy, while over 12,600 benefited from prosthetic and mobility devices.

Additional programs include financial assistance for female-headed households, emergency medical training for female healthcare workers and awareness campaigns on explosive hazards, which have reached around 260,000 women and girls.

The ICRC says its initiatives aim to help women and girls access essential services, strengthen their independence and build more secure futures despite ongoing challenges.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has highlighted its diplomatic engagement and efforts to support Afghanistan during an academic lecture delivered at the Diplomatic Institute of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Dr. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Ayash, Director General of the OIC Office in Afghanistan, delivered the lecture on “Diplomacy and the Efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Afghanistan.

According to Zia Ahmad Takal, Director of Public Communication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the event was attended by ministry employees and officials from various government institutions.

During his presentation, Al-Ayash discussed key mechanisms of public and multilateral diplomacy, outlining the history of the OIC, its various institutions and organizational structure.

He also reviewed decisions concerning Afghanistan adopted at OIC summits and meetings of foreign ministers, highlighting the role of the organization’s office in Kabul in following up on their implementation.

The ambassador further discussed the organization’s initiatives and activities aimed at supporting Afghanistan across different sectors.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion, during which participants raised questions, shared their perspectives and exchanged views on several diplomatic and institutional issues.

The lecture provided an opportunity to discuss the OIC’s diplomatic mechanisms and its engagement with Afghanistan through multilateral cooperation.

A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting detained Afghan nationals to Afghanistan or Pakistan, following warnings that their lives could be at risk.

US District Judge Valerie Caproni issued the order in New York on Tuesday, suspending deportations until Saturday, according to the Associated Press (AP).

More than 80 detained Afghans have reportedly contacted human rights organizations and immigration lawyers after receiving notices from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicating they could be deported via Pakistan.

Those affected reportedly include women, former Afghan security personnel, religious minorities and people whose relatives served alongside US forces. Many fled Afghanistan after the Islamic Emirate returned to power in 2021.

The proposed transfers have drawn criticism from 66 members of the US Congress, who warned that deportees could face persecution, torture or death.

The lawmakers urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to intervene.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry also expressed serious concern over reports of the planned transfers to Pakistan. Deputy spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal urged Washington to protect the rights and legitimate interests of the individuals involved.

Human rights groups welcomed the court’s decision as a temporary reprieve, warning that Afghans returned to Afghanistan could face arbitrary detention, executions and other forms of retaliation.

The ruling does not resolve the wider legal and humanitarian concerns, with advocates continuing efforts to prevent the deportations.