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UN suspends work at Afghanistan-Iran border over curbs on women staff
Authorities of the Islamic Emirate have not yet commented on the suspension.
The United Nations has suspended operations at a key border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran, citing new restrictions imposed by the Islamic Emirate that prevent Afghan women from working at the site, a UN official told AFP on Tuesday.
“The UN and humanitarian partners have today suspended operations at the Islam Qala border between Afghanistan and Iran, following the introduction of additional restrictions preventing female national UN and partner staff from operating at the border,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan.
Ratwatte did not specify the exact nature of the new measures but warned that they were creating “immediate operational challenges” and posed “additional risks for returning people, particularly women and girls.”
Islam Qala serves as the main crossing point for Afghans expelled from Iran, more than 60 percent of whom are women, according to UN data.
“Without female staff, we cannot collectively serve returning women and children under conditions of dignity and respect,” Ratwatte said.
Authorities of the Islamic Emirate have not yet commented on the suspension.
In 2022, the Islamic Emirate banned non-governmental organizations from employing Afghan women, a restriction later extended to UN agencies in 2023. While women are still allowed to work in limited sectors or remotely, all Afghan UN employees have reportedly been required to work from home for the past two months. NGOs, however, continue to deploy Afghan women in some field operations.
According to the UN, more than 1.2 million Afghans have crossed back into the country through the Islam Qala border from Iran so far this year, out of a total of 2.2 million returnees nationwide — including 1.7 million from Iran.
In July, Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), described the situation at Islam Qala as a “test of our collective humanity.” She warned that many returnees, particularly women, face trauma, poverty, and restricted access to essential services under the current conditions.
Otunbayeva urged the international community to act swiftly, saying Afghanistan “cannot absorb this shock alone,” and that failure to respond would “cost lives and deepen instability.”
The United States has warned that the threat posed by terrorist groups, including ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL-K), remains a major concern, with instability continuing to provide opportunities for militant organizations to expand.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Tammy Bruce, Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, said on Wednesday countering ISIL, al-Qaida and their affiliates remains a key priority for Washington.
“These groups continue to exploit instability — as evidenced by al-Qaida’s gains in the Sahel, ISIL’s growing focus on Africa, and the persistent threat from ISIL-K in Afghanistan,” Bruce said.
The remarks come as Afghan authorities have repeatedly rejected claims that terrorist organizations are operating from Afghanistan and said they will not allow the country’s territory to be used against other nations.
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Kuwait fund signs $5 million in humanitarian grants for Afghanistan, Syria
Under the agreements, $2.5 million will be allocated to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund and another $2.5 million to the Syria Humanitarian Fund.
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed two grant agreements worth a combined $5 million with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday to support humanitarian operations in Afghanistan and Syria.
Under the agreements, $2.5 million will be allocated to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund and another $2.5 million to the Syria Humanitarian Fund.
KFAED said the grants will help finance urgent humanitarian programs and projects aimed at addressing critical needs and providing life-saving assistance to vulnerable and affected communities.
The funding will also enable the OCHA-managed humanitarian funds in Afghanistan and Syria to respond more rapidly and flexibly to emergencies, support humanitarian partners on the ground and improve coordination of relief operations.
According to KFAED, the latest agreements reflect Kuwait’s continued commitment to international humanitarian efforts and bring its total contributions to joint projects with OCHA to approximately $16.1 million.
The agreements were signed by KFAED Acting Director General Rashid Al-Bader and OCHA representative in Saudi Arabia Mohammad Zaid.
China has urged Afghan authorities to take resolute action against terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, warning that such groups continue to pose a serious threat to the country and the wider region.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Sun Lei, Chargé d’Affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said on Wednesday the international community should pay close attention to the counter-terrorism situation in Afghanistan.
Citing a report by the UN Secretary-General, Sun said terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan, including ISIL-Khorasan (Daesh), continue to increase their capability and intent to carry out cross-border attacks.
“China urges the Afghan authorities to honor their counter-terrorism commitments and take resolute action against all terrorist groups based in Afghanistan,” Sun said.
He also called for action against individuals and entities listed by the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, warning that Afghanistan should not become a breeding ground for terrorism.
The Chinese diplomat said the international community should support Afghanistan in rebuilding its economy and improving people’s livelihoods, arguing that addressing economic challenges can help remove conditions that contribute to the spread of terrorism.
Sun added that China supports greater cooperation between Afghanistan, Central Asian countries, and regional organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to jointly address cross-border terrorist threats.
The remarks come as the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, saying it will not allow Afghan territory to be used against the security of any other country.
US warns of persistent ISIL-K threat in Afghanistan
Kuwait fund signs $5 million in humanitarian grants for Afghanistan, Syria
China urges Afghan authorities to take ‘resolute action’ against terrorist groups
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FAO appeals for $38 million to safeguard Afghanistan’s 2027 wheat harvest
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