Zan News: Three Canadian government ministers, including Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, have jointly condemned the Taliban's treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, describing it as "horrific" in a joint statement. File photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Canadian Officials: Taliban Treatment of Women and Girls is Horrific August 17, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Three Canadian government ministers, including Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, have jointly condemned the Taliban's treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, describing it as "horrific" in a joint statement. The statement, released on the third anniversary of the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, said that the gains of the past two decades in democracy, human rights, and education in the country have been completely wiped out. Canadian officials emphasized in the statement that "the Taliban's treatment of women and girls is nothing short of horrific." They noted that gross human rights violations have led to severe restrictions on freedom of movement, dress, access to education, work, health services, and justice. According to the statement, Afghan women and girls are imprisoned in their homes and communities and have little hope for a brighter future. Furthermore, the statement said that under Taliban rule, ethnic and religious minorities, including Hazaras, Sikhs, Hindus, Ahmadis, and other vulnerable groups, continue to face violence and marginalization. Canadian officials also pointed to the Taliban's suppression of peaceful protests and the transformation of Afghanistan into a safe haven for terrorist groups. They emphasized that Canada is cooperating with Afghanistan's neighbors to strengthen their counterterrorism capabilities and has allocated $234 million in humanitarian aid and $108 million to support basic needs, health, education, and the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan since 2021. Additionally, the country has resettled over 53,600 Afghans and supported human rights defenders in exile. Canadian officials also stated that Canada is an active participant in the United Nations-led Doha process on Afghanistan and will use this process to restore the rights of women and girls. They emphasized, "We stand with the people of Afghanistan in their struggle for a stable, secure, and peaceful Afghanistan where no one lives in fear or under oppression."

Zan News: The World Food Programme (WFP) has expressed concern over the U.S. decision to halt emergency food aid to Afghanistan and 13 other countries. File photo: Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika / U.S. Army National Guard / Public Domain WFP: U.S. Aid Cuts to Afghanistan Could Be a "Death Sentence" for Millions April 8, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The World Food Programme (WFP) has expressed concern over the U.S. decision to halt emergency food aid to Afghanistan and 13 other countries. On Tuesday (April 8), the organization stated that it is currently in contact with the U.S. government and has shared its concerns on the matter. The WFP warned that if this decision is implemented, it could be a “death sentence” for millions of people facing severe hunger. The organization added that while it appreciates the support from the United States and other donors, it remains committed to delivering vital food assistance to vulnerable communities in global hunger hotspots. This warning comes amid recent reports suggesting that Donald Trump’s administration plans to further reduce or completely cut remaining humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Sarah Charles, former head of the Humanitarian Assistance Bureau at USAID, and several informed sources told Reuters that this decision could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Zan News: The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan has stated that approximately 2.5 million schoolgirls in the country are denied access to education. File photo: Sgt. Ken Scar / DVIDS / Public Domain U.S. Embassy: 2.5 Million Girls in Afghanistan Denied Access to Education September 5, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan has stated that approximately 2.5 million schoolgirls in the country are denied access to education. In a message posted on X, the embassy emphasized that every girl has the right to learn and that today, 80% of girls in Afghanistan are deprived of education. The U.S. Embassy has expressed support for the right of girls to education in Afghanistan and added that we should support education for all. The embassy has also stressed the need to ensure that every Afghan girl has access to education. This comes as it has been three years since the Taliban closed girls' schools above the sixth grade. Despite repeated requests from the international community and international organizations, the doors of schools remain closed to them.

Zan News: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) states that Afghanistan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis, and the organization has expressed concern over the reduction of international community aid to address the needs of the vulnerable. File photo: Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika / U.S. Army National Guard / Public Domain United Nations: Afghanistan Faces the Worst Humanitarian Crisis July 20, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) states that Afghanistan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis, and the organization has expressed concern over the reduction of international community aid to address the needs of the vulnerable. Babar Baloch, the spokesperson for UNHCR, said on Friday (July 19) that $23.7 million is needed this year to respond to the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. According to UNHCR, since the beginning of this year, 33 provinces in Afghanistan have experienced natural disasters, increasing the number of people in need of humanitarian aid. Baloch added that according to estimates from UN agencies, at least 145,000 people across Afghanistan have been affected by natural disasters. He added, "Afghanistan needs continuous attention and support from the international community. The UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies in the country are severely underfunded." Referring to the recent storms and floods in eastern Afghanistan, he said that 40 people have died and 340 others have been injured in these events. He mentioned that the death toll from these natural disasters could rise in the provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kunar. The UNHCR spokesperson also mentioned that in May this year alone, more than 683 people in the north, northeast, and west of Afghanistan were killed or injured due to floods, and thousands were displaced from their main areas. The UNHCR emphasized that it is currently working to meet the needs of the affected people, especially the flood victims in eastern Afghanistan, and its staff continues their efforts in this regard. Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan are increasing while aid agencies, including UN agencies, are already facing budget shortages to implement relief programs in the country. Recently, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said that the United Nations has so far received close to $720 million, which is less than a quarter of what is needed. The United Nations had requested $3.1 billion to implement aid programs for the needy in Afghanistan for the year 2024.

Zan News: Following the extension of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) by the UN Security Council, the Taliban have called on the mission to work toward lifting political and economic sanctions and securing Afghanistan’s seat at the United Nations for the group. File photo: Leif Jørgensen / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Taliban Urge UNAMA to Support Lifting Sanctions and Obtaining Afghanistan's Seat at the UN March 18, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Following the extension of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) by the UN Security Council, the Taliban have called on the mission to work toward lifting political and economic sanctions and securing Afghanistan’s seat at the United Nations for the group. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's spokesperson, emphasized on Tuesday (March 18) that UNAMA should not continue what he referred to as “negative propaganda.” He stated, "We urge UNAMA to work towards strengthening Afghanistan’s relations with the United Nations and other countries." Additionally, the Taliban asserted that UNAMA should facilitate Afghan citizens’ access to their global rights. It is worth noting that the UN Security Council extended UNAMA’s mandate for another year last night. This comes as the Taliban had previously claimed that the mission’s presence in Afghanistan has not been "effective."

Zan News: Amnesty International has once again called on the international community and international organizations to hold the Taliban accountable for human rights abuses, particularly against women and girls. File photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Amnesty International Calls for Taliban Accountability for Human Rights Abuses Against Women and Girls in Afghanistan August 21, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Amnesty International has once again called on the international community and international organizations to hold the Taliban accountable for human rights abuses, particularly against women and girls. In a message posted on its X account, the organization emphasized that the world must take "urgent and serious" action to protect the rights of Afghan women and girls. The message stated: "It is essential to use all forms of leverage to pressure the Taliban to respect and protect the rights of women, end gender-based violence, and create space for their meaningful participation." Amnesty International also called for countries to work together to establish a formal, independent, and impartial judicial mechanism to provide Afghans with access to justice. This request was made in response to the physical punishment and severe penalties imposed by the Taliban. It is worth noting that since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, nearly 80 restrictive decrees have been issued against women and girls. Over the past three years, the Taliban have banned girls above the sixth grade from attending schools and have prevented women from continuing their studies in universities and educational institutions. In addition, the Taliban have prohibited women from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, and even working in UN offices in Afghanistan.

Zan News: On World Health Day, the World Food Program warned that Afghanistan is facing the worst child malnutrition crisis in its history. File photo: U.S. Department of Defense / DVIDS / Public Domain WFP: Afghanistan Faces the Worst Child Malnutrition Crisis in Its History April 7, 2025 Zan News Zan News: On World Health Day, the World Food Program warned that Afghanistan is facing the worst child malnutrition crisis in its history. This organization announced on Monday (April 7) via its X page that every 10 seconds a child in this country suffers from malnutrition. According to the World Food Program’s report, 3.5 million children in Afghanistan will struggle with malnutrition this year. This comes as various United Nations agencies have previously expressed concern about the critical situation of children and the needy in Afghanistan, emphasizing that if aid decreases, the problems will worsen.

Zan News: Several international aid organizations have issued a joint statement warning that Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, is becoming a "forgotten" humanitarian crisis in the world. File photo: Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika / U.S. Army National Guard / Public Domain Afghanistan Under Taliban Rule: A Forgotten Humanitarian Crisis in World August 13, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Several international aid organizations have issued a joint statement warning that Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, is becoming a "forgotten" humanitarian crisis in the world. The statement, released today Tuesday (13 August), several aid organizations, including Action Against Hunger, the Danish Refugee Council, and the International Rescue Committee, Norwegian Refugee Council, Save the Children, World Vision International, and Islamic Relief emphasized that the people of Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban have experienced the "biggest humanitarian crisis" in the last three years. These organizations added that the country's citizens are in desperate need of humanitarian aid and face challenges in delivering assistance to remote areas. According to the statement, approximately 23.7 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian aid, with 52% being children and 25% women. Additionally, food insecurity has risen, and 6.3 million people have been displaced within Afghanistan. The organizations emphasized that 12.4 million people in the country face severe food insecurity, and unemployment has doubled. The signatories of the statement stressed that the current crisis in Afghanistan cannot be resolved with short-term humanitarian aid alone and requires fundamental and sustainable solutions. They believe that diplomatic engagement with the Taliban is essential to create a suitable environment for implementing critical projects in Afghanistan. This warning follows previous concerns from international aid organizations about the worsening humanitarian situation in the country.

Zan News: The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that with the arrival of winter, millions of people in Afghanistan will face severe hardship, and one in every four families will struggle to secure enough food. File photo: Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika / U.S. Army National Guard / Public Domain WFP: With the Arrival of Winter, Millions in Afghanistan Will Face Severe Hardship December 1, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that with the arrival of winter, millions of people in Afghanistan will face severe hardship, and one in every four families will struggle to secure enough food. This international organization, in a report released on Sunday (December 1), stated that millions of people across Afghanistan are struggling. According to the report, the World Food Programme needs 680 million U.S. dollars for the next six months to support its various activities, including assisting the most vulnerable families across the country. The report goes on to say that in the first half of 2024, the World Food Programme was able to reach one million people with food aid monthly, while 11 million others have been deprived of this aid. The report also mentions that after the return of the Taliban to power, the economic situation of poor families in Afghanistan has "worsened."

Zan News: Amnesty International, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, has stated that women in Afghanistan, for the fourth consecutive year, are subjected to the most severe forms of discrimination and "systematic abuses" by Taliban officials. File photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Amnesty International: Afghan Women Face the Most Severe Forms of Discrimination and Systematic Abuses November 25, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Amnesty International, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, has stated that women in Afghanistan, for the fourth consecutive year, are subjected to the most severe forms of discrimination and "systematic abuses" by Taliban officials. The organization said today, Monday (November 25), that in annual campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence," it will highlight the violence against Afghan women. Amnesty International emphasized that during this campaign, it will address the continuous violation of women’s rights in Afghanistan, reflect the voices of Afghan women and girls and human rights defenders, and will present its request to compel the international community to hold the Taliban accountable. The organization also called on people around the world to join this campaign and show solidarity with Afghan women and girls. It is worth mentioning that the global campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" is organized annually by the United Nations and human rights organizations, starting on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and continuing until December 10, International Human Rights Day. This comes as the Taliban, since their return to power in Afghanistan, have imposed widespread restrictions on the rights and fundamental freedoms of women, depriving them of their basic rights, including the right to work and education. The group has also been accused of widespread suppression of women and committing various forms of violence, including sexual violence, against them.