Connect with us

Latest News

UNHCR starts construction of quake-resilient houses in Khost and Paktika

Published

on

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency announced the start of a more than US$14 million community-based construction effort to build 2,300 earthquake-resilient houses to help residents in southeastern Afghanistan region devastated by the deadly 22 June earthquake.

Under the plan, UNHCR is providing materials and supporting building costs for the construction of 2,000 winterized homes in both Giyan and Barmal districts of Paktika Province and 300 homes in Spera District of Khost Province.

“This initiative demonstrates UNHCR’s sustained solidarity and support to people affected by the disaster — in the coming months 2,300 families will have new, resilient, winterized homes,” said UNHCR Representative Leonard Zulu during an assessment mission in Barmal, Paktika Province. “UNHCR started distributing emergency shelter two days after the earthquake, and we are now aiming to meet urgent shelter needs to build back better.”

Earthmoving equipment contracted by UNHCR has started site clearance in Barmal and trucks are delivering construction materials as snows are expected by mid-November.

“The Khost and Paktika areas have generously hosted thousands of refugees in recent years, some of whom were also affected by the earthquake,” Zulu said. “UNHCR’s shelter initiative will ensure homes for the most-affected households.”

Over recent weeks, UNHCR teams have met with communities to present the project, identify the worst-affected families, and organize community groups to implement the community-based scheme.

In addition to building materials, households participating in the project will receive US$700 for labour. Engineers working with UNHCR’s partners will monitor construction so relevant guidance is followed. Each family will be provided with solar panels for lighting and a bukhāri space heater for burning wood during winter months, as well as materials to construct an outdoor latrine.

Bahrain’s Royal Humanitarian Foundation recently signed a US$1 million agreement with UNHCR to support the housing scheme. Additionally, UNHCR and the United Nations Development Programme have launched a joint programme to improve access to community services like health centres, schools, and water systems in the three districts.

UNHCR has included the three districts in its Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARRs) project since refugees as well as returned IDPs reside in the areas. The PARR initiative will ensure sustained support to enhance sustainable returns, reintegration and community resilience.

In the wake of the 5.9 earthquake that reportedly killed more than 1,000 people and injured many others, UNHCR distributed 3,592 family tents to provide emergency shelter for more than 25,000 people alongside household supplies and hygiene items for more than 11,200 people, complementing emergency assistance delivered by partner agencies.

Over the past four decades, Afghanistan has been battered by conflicts and natural disasters that have left millions facing famine and starvation. The latest estimates indicate that some 24 million Afghans, more than half the country’s population, are in need of humanitarian assistance.

There are some 3.4 million conflict-displaced persons in Afghanistan, as well as 1.57 million climate-displaced people, making it one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world.

Latest News

Pezeshkian says Afghanistan, Pakistan helped Iran prevent infiltration into Iran

Published

on

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Afghanistan and Pakistan cooperated with Tehran during the recent conflict to prevent individuals from using their territories to enter Iran and create unrest.

Speaking in a press conference on Saturday, Pezeshkian said Pakistan was cooperating with Iran “fully” while Afghanistan had also provided significant cooperation. He added that Turkmenistan, Russia and Iraq had helped Iran, while dialogue with Azerbaijan continued despite political differences.

Pezeshkian said regional cooperation had played an important role in helping Iran cope with the impact of the war and restrictions on the country.

The Iranian president also accused Iran’s adversaries of attempting to create insecurity along the country’s northwestern and southeastern borders, including plans to attack border posts and send armed individuals into Iran.

He said the plans were unsuccessful, partly because Iran responded to some of the efforts and because neighboring countries took measures to prevent individuals from using their territory to enter Iran.

Pezeshkian specifically highlighted the role of Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying both governments had deployed groups to monitor the situation along their territories.

According to the Iranian president, both countries had also made clear that no one would be permitted to use their soil to enter Iran and cause unrest inside the country.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Ariana Airlines brings $2.3 million Boeing 737 engine from US to Kabul

The airline said the delivery represents an important step in strengthening its technical and operational capacity and supporting the continued operation of its fleet.

Published

on

Ariana Afghan Airlines has brought a Boeing 737 aircraft engine from the United States to Kabul following continued efforts by the airline’s leadership to complete the shipment.

According to Ariana Afghan Airlines’ media office, the engine had been held up in the United States due to customs procedures. Following completion of the required process, the engine was cleared and transported to Kabul.

The engine was purchased from US-based Global Engine for $2.3 million. Ariana’s technical team is expected to install the engine on one of the airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft following its arrival.

The airline said the delivery represents an important step in strengthening its technical and operational capacity and supporting the continued operation of its fleet.

Ariana Afghan Airlines’ leadership said it is also working to accelerate the procurement of additional spare parts and technical equipment required to maintain and support the airline’s aircraft and operations.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Afghanistan issues more than 650,000 passports in one year

Published

on

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, says more than 650,000 ordinary passports were issued across Afghanistan over the past Hijri year, while the visas of more than 16,000 foreign nationals were extended.

Mujahid made the remarks during the “Government in the Media Mirror” program, held under the theme “Public Services Week.”

According to him, the General Directorate of Statistics and Information also distributed nearly 2 million electronic national ID cards and around 1 million paper ID cards during the 1447 Hijri year.

Mujahid added that the agency provided hundreds of thousands of in-person and online services related to corrections and amendments to national ID cards over the past year.

The Islamic Emirate spokesperson said the General Directorate of Passports has sought to make services faster and easier by reducing the passport application form from nine pages to one page.

He also announced an expansion of services by the state-owned Afghan Post, saying the company delivered more than 5 million domestic mail items over the past year.

According to Mujahid, other measures to expand postal services included verifying and certifying hundreds of thousands of documents, launching express services, establishing a customer service center, and delivering documents directly to people’s homes.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright © 2025 Ariana News. All rights reserved!


Warning: Undefined array key "slug" in /var/www/vhosts/ariananews.af/httpdocs/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php on line 2117

Warning: Undefined array key "slug" in /var/www/vhosts/ariananews.af/httpdocs/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php on line 2117

Warning: Undefined array key "slug" in /var/www/vhosts/ariananews.af/httpdocs/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php on line 2117