Over 14 Million Afghans Facing Food Insecurity, Warns ICRC

The 13th meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks, hosted by the WHO, was held virtually on Sunday. During the session, conflict, humanitarian crises, insecurity, and climate change were identified as major obstacles to polio eradication efforts.

Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad Al-Mahmoud, Qatar’s Minister of Health, stressed that polio remains one of the region’s foremost public health priorities and affirmed that any threat to the health and well-being of children must be eliminated.

In response to the decline in funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and its impact on essential healthcare services, including childhood vaccinations, the WHO has introduced emergency measures to ensure the continuation of critical programme activities in endemic and polio-affected countries.

Health ministers and representatives from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen participated in the meeting. Discussions focused on intensifying efforts across the region to reach unvaccinated children and protect them from polio and other preventable diseases.

The subcommittee also issued a statement calling for urgent action to halt the transmission of the wild poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It urged member countries, donors, and the international community to sustain their support for these two remaining endemic countries to strengthen polio eradication efforts.

The report, published on Sunday, 27 April, reviews the gendered dimensions of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan throughout 2024. It identifies the absence of female staff in humanitarian organisations and restrictions on women’s freedom of movement as the primary obstacles.

UN Women states that the Taliban’s stringent regulations including the requirement for a male guardian (mahram) during travel and the enforcement of strict compulsory hijab laws have severely restricted women’s participation in public life.

The report also highlights that the Taliban’s ban on women working for NGOs and UN agencies has drastically reduced women’s and girls’ access to essential services, such as healthcare, education, nutrition, and protection. It notes that the exclusion of women has also weakened community-based responses to humanitarian needs.

Furthermore, the report warns that the ongoing ban on girls’ education continues to perpetuate poverty across the country. According to the findings, only 43% of school-aged girls are currently enrolled in education, and participation among girls aged 13 to 17 is almost non-existent.

Economic pressures on families particularly female-headed households have increased significantly in 2024. The report notes that many families have been forced to adopt desperate coping strategies, such as skipping meals, withdrawing children from school, and resorting to child marriage.

The shortage of female healthcare workers, compounded by Taliban-imposed restrictions on women’s employment, has drastically curtailed women’s access to medical services, contributing to worsening maternal health conditions.

The report further indicates that Afghan women and girls are facing heightened risks of gender-based violence and early marriage, largely due to their exclusion from social decision-making processes.

While organisations led by women could play a pivotal role in supporting women’s rights, the report notes that many have collapsed due to severe funding shortages.

To address these challenges, UN Women recommends hiring more female staff within humanitarian organisations and providing financial support to women-led institutions.

The two veteran political figures refrained from disclosing details about the topics discussed during their meeting. However, the notable presence of Karzai’s daughter, Durkhani, at the gathering attracted considerable public attention.

Hamid Karzai has consistently voiced support for the reopening of girls’ schools and for greater participation of women in society and the economy. Durkhani’s appearance at the meeting prominently seated among a gathering of men and former leaders was seen by some observers as a symbolic gesture. Social media users noted that, amid the Taliban’s restrictions against girls, her presence represented a subtle form of protest.

Durkhani had similarly drawn public and media attention during a meeting with Abdullah in October last year, where she again took a central seat among senior figures.

Abdullah and Karzai are among the few former political leaders who remained in Kabul following the Taliban’s return to power. Although they continue to meet with various segments of society, the Taliban government has not formally recognised their political status, nor do they hold any role in governmental decision-making or advisory processes.

In recent years, Karzai has persistently advocated for the formation of an inclusive government and emphasised the critical importance of women’s education. Abdullah, in contrast, has largely avoided public commentary and continues his activities quietly, outside the spotlight.

During the meeting, Muttaqi emphasised the importance of expanding diplomatic and economic relations between Afghanistan and India.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted Muttaqi’s call for strengthened ties, noting that Afghanistan offers promising investment opportunities.

The Taliban Foreign Minister invited Indian investors to explore the new economic prospects in Afghanistan and encouraged greater Indian engagement.

Muttaqi also urged India to ease travel between the two countries by restoring regular visa issuance processes for Afghan traders, patients, and students.

According to the Taliban’s statement, Prakash affirmed that India remains committed to providing ongoing assistance to Afghanistan. He also discussed the potential resumption of several infrastructure projects that had been suspended in recent years, adding that “New Delhi is interested in investing in further projects as well.”

Prakash’s visit comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following a recent attack in Kashmir. India has blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for the incident, leading to the suspension of a water-sharing agreement and the closure of the Attari-Wagah trade routes. In response, Pakistan has stated it is prepared to respond to any potential escalation.

According to Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi reaffirmed the Taliban’s full readiness to implement the Trans-Afghan railway project.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, and expanding political, economic, and transit cooperation with Uzbekistan.

Takal stated that both sides discussed the potential convening of a trilateral trade and transit meeting at the foreign ministers’ level involving the Taliban, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. He further claimed that Afghanistan’s exports to Uzbekistan had tripled during the first four months of 2025 compared to previous periods.

During the conversation, Muttaqi emphasised the need to enhance transit ties and facilitate the issuance of visas by Uzbekistan for Afghan traders and citizens. He urged that both nations should seize emerging regional opportunities for their mutual benefit.

According to Taliban officials, it was agreed that necessary coordination for the proposed trilateral meeting would continue through diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, the press office of Russia’s Trade Mission in Uzbekistan announced on Saturday that specialists from Russia and Uzbekistan would jointly design the Trans-Afghan railway. It was reported that Russian and Uzbek experts would plan the shortest new transit corridors connecting Southeast Asia to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), China, and Europe.