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UN-led Doha meetings call for greater support for Afghan economy and counternarcotics efforts
A series of United Nations-facilitated working group meetings on Afghanistan concluded in Doha last week, with renewed calls for enhanced international engagement and practical support for the Afghan people, particularly in the areas of private sector development and counternarcotics.
Organized by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the meetings on June 30 and July 1 brought together representatives from 26 UN Member States and international organizations, delegates from the Islamic Emirate, and a panel of subject-matter experts.
The gatherings focused on two key areas: boosting Afghanistan’s struggling private sector and tackling the complex challenges posed by drug production, trafficking, and treatment.
“Supporting the private sector and counternarcotics efforts is a strategic, economic, and humanitarian imperative,” said Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA.
She added that the meetings also provided a platform to engage IEA on their international obligations and emphasize the essential role of women and girls in the country’s economic recovery and broader society.
The counternarcotics working group explored a joint action plan aimed at creating alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers, alongside strategies for drug prevention and treatment programs. Participants also addressed transnational concerns such as drug trafficking, cross-border coordination, and the need for stronger law enforcement mechanisms.
The private sector working group, developed through prior consultations with Afghan business leaders, emphasized the importance of improving access to finance, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and promoting women-led enterprises.
Discussions centered on job creation, skills development, and practical solutions to strengthen Afghanistan’s economic resilience.
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Afghanistan received more than $11 billion in humanitarian aid over the past five years
Afghanistan has received more than $11 billion in humanitarian assistance since the Islamic Emirate returned to power in August 2021, according to United Nations figures cited by the BBC.
Despite the substantial aid, the gap between humanitarian needs and available funding remains wide, with the United Nations warning that millions of Afghans continue to require assistance.
The decline in international funding, a growing number of people in need and the return of millions of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries have added pressure to the country’s humanitarian situation.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis deepened following the collapse of the previous government in August 2021. The depreciation of the national currency, the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and reductions in some international support programs further strained the economy and living conditions.
UN data shows that Afghanistan received about $5.2 billion in humanitarian assistance in 2021, followed by around $3.8 billion in 2022 and nearly $2 billion in 2023.
For 2024 and 2025, the United Nations appealed for more than $3 billion to address humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. However, funding fell short of the amounts requested.
The assistance has largely been directed toward food, healthcare, support for returnees and other urgent humanitarian needs.
The United Nations continues to classify Afghanistan as one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, stressing that sustained international support remains essential for millions of Afghans who continue to need assistance.
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Afghanistan expresses condolences over deadly Indonesia earthquake
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has expressed deep sorrow over a powerful earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia, killing at least 53 people and forcing around 5,000 others to evacuate.
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Flores Island and surrounding areas on Saturday, blocking roads and triggering landslides, Indonesian authorities said.
In a statement, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed its sympathy and condolences to the government and people of Indonesia over the casualties caused by the earthquake.
It also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.
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Afghan commerce minister meets Uzbek deputy prime minister in Termez
Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, met with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshed Khojaev in the city of Termez to discuss expanding economic cooperation and joint investment.
The meeting, held on Saturday at the Termez Trade Center, focused on cooperation in the electricity, mining and agriculture sectors, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said in a statement.
Uzbek officials expressed interest in investing in various sectors in Afghanistan. The Afghan delegation welcomed the interest and emphasized its readiness to create the necessary conditions for expanding economic cooperation and joint investment.
Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, governor of Balkh, and Abdul Ghaffar Bahr, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Tashkent, also attended the meeting.
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