Nearly 7000 Afghans Deported From Pakistan, Iran In Single Day

In a report released on Wednesday, OCHA highlighted that the United States was the largest donor to Afghanistan in 2024, contributing $736 million, equivalent to 45 percent of the total humanitarian aid provided to the country.

As of the end of February 2025, an estimated 7.3 million people had received at least one form of humanitarian aid, down from 8.6 million during the same period in 2024. The report noted that of the 23.7 million people in need of assistance last year, 20.4 million received some form of aid, with 3.4 million receiving three or more types of support. Women made up 29 percent of all aid recipients.

Looking ahead, OCHA projects that only 12.5 million people will receive aid in 2025 if US support is not renewed, despite the number of people in need remaining high at 22.9 million. The agency stressed that $1.62 billion in funding is required to adequately address humanitarian needs this year.

OCHA also emphasised that over the past two and a half decades, the United States has consistently been the largest contributor to humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan. However, this flow of assistance was disrupted following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, casting uncertainty over future aid commitments.

In an interview with Izvestia newspaper, Kabulov underscored Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources and its strategic geographic position as key assets for future collaboration. He noted that these advantages could help transform the country into a vital transit hub linking Russia, Central Asia, and South Asia.

This development follows a landmark decision last week by Russia’s Supreme Court to suspend the designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organisation. The move, initiated at the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office, took immediate effect, according to Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefyodov.

Shortly after the court’s ruling, Kabulov highlighted that Afghanistan’s evolving status creates opportunities for broader engagement. A high-level Taliban delegation is expected to participate in the upcoming “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, scheduled for May.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that it paves the way for a comprehensive partnership with Kabul, which could serve the interests of both the Russian and Afghan people.

In line with this shift, Moscow is also looking to expand trade relations with the Taliban-led administration. As part of these efforts, Kabulov travelled to Kabul on Wednesday, where he held bilateral talks with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, the rights of Hazaras have been increasingly curtailed, according to the Greens. In a statement released on Wednesday, 23 April, the party expressed pride in supporting the Hazara diaspora in Australia and urged the federal government to provide adequate protection for Hazara refugees. They emphasised that no Hazara refugee should face deportation back to Afghanistan under current conditions.

As Australia’s federal election approaches on 3 May, with early voting already underway, the Greens have called for the government to increase Australia’s annual humanitarian refugee intake to 50,000 people.

“The Greens are committed to ensuring that individuals seeking safety in Australia are treated with dignity and respect, underpinned by a fair immigration system,” the statement said.

Furthermore, the party demanded an end to Australia’s current ban on accepting refugees from Indonesia, highlighting the plight of thousands of Afghan asylum seekers who remain stranded there, awaiting resettlement to safe third countries.

The Greens expressed grave concern over the international community’s perceived inaction, cautioning that continued silence could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and potentially lead to further genocidal acts against the Hazara population.

Additionally, the party highlighted Australia’s responsibilities under the UN Genocide Convention, urging the government to actively prevent genocide, support thorough investigations into human rights abuses, and advocate for accountability regarding international crimes.

The Greens reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to engaging with the Hazara community throughout Australia’s 48th Parliament and pledged to amplify Hazara voices and concerns.

The statement came during a meeting with Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan. Zia Ahmad Takal, Deputy Spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Russia is expected to receive the Taliban’s diplomatic representative at the ambassadorial level.

On Wednesday, Takal announced that Muttaqi and Kabulov discussed enhancing bilateral relations, regional cooperation, and economic partnerships. Muttaqi expressed gratitude to Kabulov for Russia’s recent decision to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations.

Takal noted that Kabulov emphasised Russia's commitment to strengthening ties and outlined efforts to eliminate barriers to further engagement. Kabulov also confirmed that a permanent joint commission on bilateral relations will convene during a planned meeting between Russian and Taliban officials this May in Kazan, alongside the “Kazan Forum.”

Russia’s Supreme Court recently approved a request by the Attorney General to suspend the Taliban’s designation as a terrorist organisation, clearing a path for expanded political and economic cooperation. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry clarified that Moscow still adheres to UN Security Council sanctions on Taliban officials.

Although no country has formally recognised the Taliban government, Russia had previously accepted a Taliban representative at the chargé d’affaires level.

According to the ministry, these vaccines are expected to save thousands of lives across the country, where healthcare services have been severely affected by prolonged instability and funding cuts.

Earlier, on World Hepatitis Day, the ministry reported that approximately 15000 people in Afghanistan had been diagnosed with hepatitis in the past year, 12000 of whom were infected with hepatitis B and 1300 with hepatitis C. Abdul Wali Haqqani, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister for Health Services, confirmed these figures.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has continued to call for increased testing, treatment, and vaccination to combat hepatitis in Afghanistan. WHO estimates suggest that over 100000 people in the country have contracted hepatitis over the past decade.

The donation comes at a critical time, as many healthcare centres across Afghanistan have closed following the suspension of US foreign aid, contributing to a surge in preventable infectious diseases.