Japan’s Support Improves Lives of Two Million Afghans Over Three Years, Reports UN

The WFP has emphasised that it remains the last hope for these vulnerable families, but to sustain its operations, the organisation requires $680 million in funding.

In its statement, WFP highlighted that in 2024, three-quarters of Afghan households have resorted to taking on debt to purchase food. The average debt per household now stands at $560, reflecting the growing desperation among the population.

The organisation noted that limited resources have turned survival into a daily struggle for millions of Afghans. With the onset of winter, many will face not only harsh living conditions but also critical food shortages.

Despite the challenges, WFP reported that it has delivered cash and food assistance to 10.5 million people across Afghanistan in 2023. These initiatives aim to improve child nutrition, stimulate the local economy, and empower Afghan communities.

According to WFP, Afghanistan is among 22 countries worldwide experiencing a rise in food insecurity.

This warning follows a recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which revealed that at least 23 million Afghans are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The publication highlighted ten nations that pose significant risks, advising against travel to these regions in 2025.

According to the report published on Saturday, Afghanistan’s ongoing conflict, severe political instability, and worsening humanitarian crisis place it at the top of the list. “Afghanistan is the world’s most dangerous country, grappling with ongoing conflict, political instability, and severe humanitarian crises,” the report states.

The Economic Times attributed Afghanistan’s dire state to decades of war, including the Taliban’s resurgence, which have resulted in widespread violence and insecurity. The report also emphasised the impact of poverty, lack of essential services, food shortages, and a fragile healthcare system, which have compounded the nation’s challenges.

The presence of terrorist groups such as ISIS further fuels violence, making daily life perilous for Afghan citizens.

Other countries listed as highly dangerous include Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Ukraine, Somalia, Sudan, and Iraq. The Economic Times urged travellers to avoid these regions due to similar risks of conflict and instability.

The deported individuals were identified as citizens of Afghanistan, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan, who were allegedly attempting to cross the border into Europe illegally.

Under Russian immigration laws, the deported individuals are banned from re-entering the country for the next five years.

Government statistics reveal that since the start of this year, security forces in Pskov have deported 520 foreign nationals, a figure nearly three times higher than during the same periods in 2022 and 2023.

Over the past three years, an increasing number of citizens from Central Asia and Afghanistan have used Russia as a transit point to reach Europe. Many of these individuals have been apprehended and subsequently returned to their home countries by Russian authorities.

In an official statement, the embassy expressed concern that such allegations, made by the Pakistani Interior Minister and other officials, could serve as justification for the harassment and mistreatment of Afghan refugees in the country.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry accused Afghan refugees of taking part in protests against the government, stating that at least 37 Afghan nationals were arrested during the demonstrations. The country’s Minister of Information and Culture also alleged that Afghan citizens had been involved in protests organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Meanwhile, the Punjab government announced its intention to disclose the identities of Afghan participants in the demonstrations.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, declared on Wednesday that Afghan citizens without proper documentation would not be permitted to reside in Islamabad after 31 December.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Taliban Embassy dismissed these accusations as unfounded and voiced concerns that such rhetoric could lead to unjust treatment and harassment of Afghan refugees by Pakistani law enforcement agencies.

The embassy stated: “Afghan refugees in Pakistan have never engaged in political activities or criminal acts. They have consistently lived peacefully and made positive contributions to Pakistan’s economy.”

The Taliban Embassy called on the Pakistani government to avoid creating an atmosphere of distrust towards Afghan refugees, warning that such an environment could exacerbate incidents of harassment, damage reputations, and result in forced deportations.

The statement also cautioned that continuing these policies would be detrimental to Pakistan’s interests and could further strain relations between the two neighbouring nations.

The allegations surfaced following protests led by supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, demanding the release of Imran Khan from prison. Thousands of PTI supporters responded to Khan’s call for action last Monday, marching towards Islamabad and clashing with police upon entering the capital.

The protests were subsequently quelled, with Pakistani police arresting dozens of demonstrators. Reports indicated that several individuals were killed during the clashes.

According to sources, the woman has been in Taliban custody for the past eight days in the centre of Kapisa province.

Sources from Kapisa province told Afghanistan International that a group of men gang-raped Niloufar at her home in the village of Aruki in Kapisa province on Friday, November 22.

Sources claimed that the five perpetrators of the gangrape are members of Niloufar's husband's family. According to them, one of the perpetrators has been identified as "Mayel Agha" and is a member of the Taliban in Kapisa.

Local sources said that after Niloufar was sexually assaulted in her home, she started making noise, and locals heard her voice and informed the Taliban. The Taliban were able to arrest one person on charges of involvement in the rape, and four others fled the scene.

The Taliban has not yet commented on the reason for Niloufar's arrest.

‘Victims of Domestic Violence Imprisoned’

Women's rights activists said that after the Taliban’s takeover, the safe houses that sheltered women victims of domestic violence were abolished and the Taliban kept these women in prisons.

Before August 2021, the shelters operated under the umbrella of the Ministry of Women's Affairs.

Upon entering Kabul, the Taliban abolished the Ministry of Women's Affairs and replaced it with the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

Earlier, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a report in December quoted some Taliban officials as saying they were imprisoning "women without a mahram" who were victims of violence.

UNAMA has said that the imprisonment of women "in order to protect them" deprives these victims of their freedom.