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Turkey suspends flights to Afghanistan and Iran
Turkey on Sunday suspended flights from Iran and Afghanistan in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, Anadolu Agency reported.
“Flights to Iran and Afghanistan from Turkey have been suspended by our government as part of preventive measures against coronavirus,” said the ministry in a statement.
The airline sector has been one of the hardest hit as countries lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.
A message to passengers meanwhile, on Turkish Airlines’ website currently reads: “Some of our July flights have been suspended in accordance with updated coronavirus protocols regarding international flights.”
Sunday’s move to cancel flights comes after Iran’s president on Saturday estimated as many as 25 million Iranians could have been infected with the coronavirus since the outbreak’s beginning and urged the public to take the pandemic seriously, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
President Hassan Rouhani cited a new Iranian Health Ministry study in offering the unprecedentedly high number of infections.
Officials have not explained what the report’s estimates are based on and the study has not been made public.
Rouhani also said he believes an additional 30-35 million people could be infected in the coming months, again without citing the basis for his estimate.
Iran’s population is around 81 million people.
Iran has seen the worst outbreak in the Middle East, with more than 270,000 confirmed cases and at least 13,979 deaths.
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Albanian PM criticizes NATO’s Afghanistan withdrawal
Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has criticized NATO over its handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing the exit as “shameful.”
Speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum, Rama said that while Albania is a NATO member, it has limited influence over the alliance’s decisions. He noted that member states tend to share credit when NATO actions are seen as successful, such as its role in Kosovo, but shift blame when outcomes are negative.
Referring to the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, Rama said NATO’s exit reflected poorly on the alliance and its member states.
He added that Albania accepted thousands of Afghan evacuees following the fall of Kabul, describing the situation as difficult and noting that many European countries were reluctant to host them.
Rama’s remarks highlight ongoing debate in Europe over responsibility for the Afghanistan withdrawal and the treatment of Afghan refugees in its aftermath.
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Poland deports three Afghan asylum seekers despite European court order
Poland has deported three Afghan asylum seekers to Kabul despite an interim ruling by the European Court of Human Rights ordering a halt to their removal, according to Polish media reports.
The case was reported by OKO.press, which said the deportations took place earlier this month as part of a planned operation involving a group of Afghan nationals.
According to the report, Polish authorities had scheduled the deportation of nine Afghan migrants on April 10. However, the European Court issued urgent interim measures instructing Poland to suspend the deportations, citing concerns over the safety of the individuals if returned to Afghanistan.
Despite being informed of the court’s decision prior to the flight, Polish authorities proceeded with the deportation of three individuals to Kabul, while the remaining cases were halted.
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Russia delivers fortified flour aid to Afghanistan
The aid consignment forms part of Russia’s broader contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP). Russian officials say the total volume of assistance under this contribution will reach approximately 3,977 tonnes.
The handover ceremony in northern Afghanistan highlights ongoing international efforts to address food insecurity in the country, where millions remain in need of humanitarian support due to economic challenges, climate-related shocks, and prolonged instability.
The WFP, which is leading food assistance operations across Afghanistan, relies on contributions from international donors to sustain its programs.
Russia’s latest delivery adds to a series of humanitarian shipments provided to Afghanistan through multilateral channels.
Aid agencies continue to warn that sustained international support will be critical in the months ahead, as many Afghan families struggle to secure basic food supplies.
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