Celebrated by millions of Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time “to come together, bound by our common humanity”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message just ahead of the holy month. The UN chief drew a parallel between the spirit of “understanding and compassion” which characterizes Ramadan, and the mission of the United Nations, “to foster dialogue, unity and peace.” “In these challenging times, my thoughts are with those facing conflict, displacement and suffering. I join everyone observing Ramadan to call for peace, mutual respect and solidarity.” Islamic philanthropy Ramadan is also known as a “month of giving”, and a high point in charitable giving motivated by faith, towards the displaced. Islamic philanthropy plays a growing role in supporting refugees worldwide, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday. In a new report, UNHCR shows that its pioneering Refugee Zakat Fund has supported six million forcibly displaced people in 26 countries since its launch in 2017. ‘New kids on the block’ “We are new to this sector as a UN organization,” Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor to the High Commissioner for Refugees and UNHCR Representative to Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, told reporters in Geneva. “We wanted to offer a new platform to enable giving in places where Muslim organizations do not operate at ease, because of financial restrictions, because we need the large machinery of the UN to implement, like in Afghanistan, in Somalia and for the Rohingya,” he said, before adding: “Islamic giving has always been there - we are the new kids on the block.” Central role of charity UNHCR’s Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report shows that some $38 million were raised through the fund in 2022. Mr. Khalifa highlighted how harnessing the central role of charitable giving in Islam has been key to the initiative’s success. He explained the principle of “Zakat”, or obligatory almsgiving, whereby Muslims need to contribute 2.5 per cent of their unused savings to charity every year, adding that it was one of the five pillars of Islam. Assisting the most vulnerable Mr. Khalifa also pointed out that, while resources from the fund are not exclusively dedicated to supporting refugees in Muslim countries, more than 50 per cent of the forcibly displaced under UNHCR’s global purview are in the Muslim world. The agency lists the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, the internal displacement situation in Yemen and the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon as the main “recipient operations” of proceeds from the fund since 2017. The contributions were distributed through cash assistance and direct provision of goods. ‘Innovative finance’ While the fund represents a “small contribution” to the budget of the agency, its positive impact is increasingly apparent. To continue leveraging the potential of Islamic philanthropy, last year UNHCR launched a new initiative in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, called the Global Islamic Fund for Refugees. Mr. Khalifa said that the agency was increasingly looking to “innovative finance” to generate new revenue streams for refugees worldwide. UNHCR notes that its Refugee Zakat Fund has been “endorsed by several legal Islamic scholars and institutions” to receive and distribute donations to eligible refugees and internally displaced people.   Source: UN News

IOM “Women are half of a country, and we were not born to stay at home, cook or give birth. Let us work, let us learn, let us live!” “To all women, remember: the tree that survives the rumble will become the strongest tree in the ground.” I am one of the women aid workers in Afghanistan and, like all the other women staff, this ban (editorial note: the ban on women working in non-governmental organizations) really had an impact on my life. It causes me a lot of psychological pressure. I didn’t even know how to deal with it. It’s a nightmare. It is so unfair to be deprived of your rights because of your gender. Working is not only my dream or a human right, it is also the way I support my family. Even before the ban, as a woman employee, I faced many challenges. The security situation in the country has always been bad. It's not just the challenges of movement or the problems with the hijab, overall, it was already a struggle. Earlier last year there was a shooting in our province, we were in the field and while community members were fighting with each other - one of them started shouting next to us: ‘Where are the women staff? Tell me! I will kill them! Where are they?’ We were petrified. Since the ban, we are stopped at checkpoints even more than before, and I fear these checkpoints because when they stop me, even though I have a United Nations Identity Card and a permission letter, they still disrespect us and threaten us. But now, I'm done complaining. I am angry. Women are half of a country, and we were not born to stay at home, cook or give birth. Let us work, let us learn, let us live! To all women, remember: the tree that survives the rumble will become the strongest tree in the ground! IOM “When I go outside, I'm afraid. I am afraid that they will stop me and beat me.” The de facto Taliban authorities' decree banning women [from working in non-governmental organisations] has a psychological impact on me. I am afraid. I am afraid that if I am not allowed to work, how will I support my family? Right now, I am the main breadwinner of my family. We are not in a good economic condition and my job is what gives us a stable livelihood. Even though I could send my children to school to continue their education, they would have required stationery, school fees, transportation costs, and so on. This ban made me lose hope in what I envisioned for my children's future. I don’t have a mahram available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Apart from doing my work, I am living in a society where I must go out and buy our family basic needs, such as food, clothing and so on. When I go outside, I'm afraid. I am afraid that they will stop me and beat me. On top of that, as a female aid worker, I am worried about being stopped and questioned at the Taliban checkpoints. I feel stressed and anxious every time. I call on the international community to not abandon Afghan women and girls who are the victims of these bans and discriminatory rules. Millions of girls are banned from attending schools and universities and working with humanitarian organizations. I am worried this ban will encourage even more gender-based violence and forced marriage. It will exacerbate food insecurity and malnutrition as the lack of female participation in the workforce will mean women and children will never access to these essential services. The international community must stand for Afghan women's rights and engage in dialogue with the Taliban to reverse these bans so that women and girls can go to work and universities. This is having a toll on me psychologically. I am worried about my children's future. If the bans continue, I will consider migrating abroad to secure a safe future for my children. I feel depressed. As an aid worker, I don't feel safe, and I am afraid for my life. I am worried that I might be targeted because of my job. IOM Women should not be sentenced to confinement between the four walls of their homes. The women here are heroes, not just because of their work or their success, but because they are women in Afghanistan, and that will make them heroes for eternity. Let's all try together to build a bridge of knowledge firmly, so that tomorrow Afghanistan is not source of darkness, ignorance, and illiteracy. Women's rights are recognized and protected in Islam and by the international community. Women should not be sentenced to confinement between the four walls of their homes. Afghanistan had a poor record in women's rights, and it became worse after the Taliban takeover. It started with abolishing the Ministry of Women's Affairs, to making it clear that women have nowhere to go to if they encounter any problems. As an Afghan woman, I am the victim of these bans and discriminatory rules. I fought -despite all the difficulties- to be educated and serve my country. I don't want to believe that all of that will be in vain. Women are now required to have a mahram whenever they go out. What if there are simply not enough men to accompany each girl or woman in the family? What if they don't have a father? What if their brothers are underage? Where can women -who are in such situations- find a mahram? Women are now banned from working. They are not allowed to go out on field missions. Women cannot even use the public transport system in a country that is facing extreme poverty. Unfortunately, the men in our families including the father, husband and brothers are not willing to defend our rights. They threaten and oppress us more instead. There's a lack of women professionals in many sectors, and with these bans, there will be even fewer educated women. There will be no more women who will graduate to become teachers and doctors. This is a painful situation to endure. This is the greatest persecution of women in the world. The bans will also destroy children's future, and it will result in an ignorant and poor society where early marriage is prevalent and women's rights are not protected. Ignoring women means removing half of the population, which will make the remaining half weak and hopeless. But people who read books will never be enslaved. Let's all try together to build a bridge of knowledge firmly, so that tomorrow Afghanistan is not source of darkness, ignorance, and illiteracy. We should never give up. No matter how desperate we are. The women here are heroes, not just because of their work or their success, but because they are women in Afghanistan, and that will make them heroes for eternity. UNHCR “I want to serve as a role model and motivate the girls to stay in school.” I grew up as a refugee in Peshawar. My father was a teacher in Afghanistan and encouraged everyone in the family to study hard. After returning to Afghanistan in 2010, I continued to learn, graduating from university with a degree in computer science. I am passionate about my studies, and I want to teach other girls to learn as well. Now, I teach English and computer science to refugee returnees like me. I want to serve as a role model and motivate the girls to stay in school. I continued my education [despite] a lot of financial problems and cultural challenges. I feel what other girls at the school feel. I firmly believe that the computer skills and knowledge of English … can help the girls continue their education online, even at home. It will help them to access various education sources on the internet while pursuing their journey of getting educated. It will also help students to do their research and gain more knowledge on topics they are interested in. My parents couldn’t afford even the basic life essentials, including a further education for me and my siblings. Now we have returned, I am happy. We have a decent home, and I was able to get a higher education back in Afghanistan. Seeing young girls drop out of school or prevented from going to learn due to lack of female teachers makes me feel sad. The situation may worsen for girls and women and will also lead to early and forced marriages. I don’t receive a teaching salary, but the joy of seeing girls come to school every day is the source of my pride and satisfaction. UNHCR “I wanted to be a midwife because I saw many mothers and children died because there was no access to health services and no midwife in our village.” I wanted to be a midwife because I saw many mothers and children died because there was no access to health services and no midwife in our village. We live far away from the nearest health center and to get there, it is very difficult. The health district hospital is about 10-20 kilometers from my village, but it is hard to reach.  In the winter, access roads are closed because of snow.  One winter, I remember, five mothers were supposed to deliver. They were taken to hospital, but four died along the way. I feel lucky to be able to continue my studies as the health sector is one area where exemptions allow women to continue working. At the same, I am sad that other women like me cannot go to school. It is not logical in the 21st century. If this situation continues, we cannot fill the gaps for a long time. Afghanistan cannot fill the gaps. I hope this decree will be revoked as soon as possible and that activities for girls can be resumed in our schools.  Girls should have access to training at school, at university and work. Yes, we are lucky to have this class continue, and we will continue to study hard and do our best. But still, we are concerned.  What if other restrictions are coming? We don’t have a clear future. UNOPS “I will continue to break stereotypes and become a role model for other women in my community.” When I was a little girl, I was curious, innovative, and eager to bring change to the world. My dream was to use technology and innovations to build a  better Afghanistan. And my dream came true as I became a civil engineer. I am passionate about helping Afghan women, ensuring their access to transportation infrastructure in the rural areas. Seeing a smile on their faces after completion of each project motivates me to work even harder for the development of my country. Thanks to technology, I can freely talk with engineers, architects, clients, construction contractors and most importantly with the beneficiaries, especially women, using different online and offline networks and channels. Using engineering software has enabled me to design, manage, and define the risk for our projects which benefits millions of Afghan people. I take full advantage of the benefits offered by the digital space for connecting with women and advocating for their inclusion. I am happy to share that the women in Afghanistan are using technology too. Through the digital platform, I can stay connected with the beneficiaries in the field. Despite all the ups and downs, all the fears and pressures, Afghan women remain resilient and committed to work harder and support each other and their communities. Being a woman engineer in the field is a tough and challenging job. I am determined to do my job to the best of my abilities. I will continue to break stereotypes and become a role model for other women in my community. UN Women “No society can last long without the presence of women.” Since the day they took power, I have not been allowed to enter my school. They are excluding us from society by not allowing us to work alongside the men. This is my worst memory. All my classmates whom I am still in touch with are in the same situation. All of them are demotivated and depressed. I have lost my self-esteem during this last year. I have noticed that people do not love Afghanistan anymore. Of course, this is our homeland, but when there are no job opportunities and one cannot provide for their family, how can they live here? The Taliban regime started their stay in power by banning work and education for women – that is what they really are. The women of Afghanistan have not had any social role this last year. The Taliban do not count on women at all. Although women are half the society, their will is not respected under Taliban rule. Women’s presence is important for the development of a country, and their absence causes decadence. A society without women is subject to destruction. Afghanistan is also on the verge of destruction in the absence of women. Without women, societies are destroyed. No society can last long without the presence of women. I am a woman and I feel bad about not being counted on and being neglected. I believe if the situation continues like this, with women being neglected, Afghanistan will collapse. Nevertheless, I still have hope. I still hope the girls’ schools will reopen and we can continue our education. Together we will reconstruct Afghanistan and live happily. OCHA “The ban on female aid workers felt like the final nail in our hopes of seeing a change in the Taliban’s attitude towards women. Each ban is taking away our sense of being equal human beings.” Growing up as a young girl, especially coming from a minority group, I was determined to work hard and contribute towards the development of my family and community. I completed my studies and returned home to work in the humanitarian sector, full of hope and enthusiasm to help my country. But with what our country has turned out to be today, all my hopes have been dashed. Since the Taliban took over in August 2021, we have seen the space, dignity, respect, and opportunities for women shrinking and eroding. The ban on female aid workers felt like the final nail in our hopes of seeing a change in the Taliban’s attitude towards women. Soon after the Taliban took over, my sister and I were beaten by their security forces in town for allegedly not wearing the hijab properly. From that day, I sensed the worst was coming. Since then, we have witnessed one ban after another. Each ban is taking away our sense of being equal human beings. Restrictions on women are making life tough for families. They affect men, women, and children, even though women bear the brunt because they are the target. When I started working, I asked my father to be my mahram [a male family member]. There was no other man in the family to help me. He escorted me to work every day and accompanied me to carry out family and personal errands. This changed when he fell sick. He cannot go around with me anymore, but the de facto authorities still expect us to comply with the mahram requirement. They beat women for not complying with it. I feel sad that every time we meet with fellow female aid workers, we spend most of our time crying over the tough conditions we are living under in our own country. As young professionals, we are supposed to discuss how to improve our country. We now call these meetings ‘crying sessions.’ They help us to de-stress. It is one way we try to find healing, as it seems the Taliban are not willing to listen to us, their people. We do not see a brighter future if we are not allowed to participate in life and society.           Note: Names, locations, and course of events have been changed in this article to ensure the safety of the Afghan woman featured. The content of the stories does not necessarily represent the views of the United Nations or affiliated organization.

Shortly before the Taliban takeover one year ago, I visited an orphanage in Kunduz, a city in the north of Afghanistan. I was heartbroken when I spoke with a young girl there who had lost her entire family the day before, following intense fighting between the Afghan National Security Forces and the Taliban. Although she was safe from any immediate danger, had access to food, shelter and other life-saving necessities thanks to the support from our UN team on the ground, I knew that her needs and those of other vulnerable children across Afghanistan were far greater, and the problems faced by their communities more complex.  One year on, these challenges have grown exponentially and our efforts to build a stable future for children like the ones I met last year in Kunduz have become more demanding. From hunger to chronic poverty, to increase in negative coping mechanisms, such as child marriage or selling of organs and children, the scale of suffering in Afghanistan continues to rise across many areas since the Taliban advanced on Kabul last summer.  Over half of the country’s population now live below the poverty line. Nearly 23 million people are food insecure, many of them severely so, and more than 2 million children are suffering from malnutrition. In June 2022, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck central region of Afghanistan, killing over 1,000 people and pushing already vulnerable communities to the brink.  I am especially worried about Afghan women and girls, whose lives have changed unrecognizably since the Taliban returned to power last summer. Since 15 August, we have seen a significant rolling back of their economic, political, and social rights and a worrying escalation in restrictive gender policies and behaviors. Without the right to education, work and freedom of movement, women now find themselves increasingly relegated to the margins.  As these developments began to unfold last year, our UN team vowed to stay and deliver for the people of Afghanistan. Under the auspices of the One UN Transitional Engagement Framework for Afghanistan, the overarching strategic planning document that guides our UN team’s work on the ground, we have been able to save lives whilst sustaining essential services and preserving key community systems. In the first six months of this year alone, we reached 22.9 million with some form of humanitarian assistance – 94 per cent of the overall 24.4 million people in need. Vulnerable households were supported with life-saving and life-sustaining food assistance – from emergency rations, to seasonal support, agricultural supplies and nutritious supplements – to healthcare, emergency shelter and non-food items, WASH and protection assistance.  Yet despite our unprecedented response, the needs across Afghanistan remain vast. Rates of food insecurity, poverty and debt have soared since the Taliban returned to power last summer, even if the roots of these problems existed long before 15 August 2021 following decades of neglect and underdevelopment in key public services and infrastructure.  Without access to these services, including strong healthcare, a functioning banking system and resilient agricultural sector, the lives of ordinary Afghans will continue to hang in the balance. The people of Afghanistan deserve a serious commitment and sustained investment in their future, which is why, one year into the Taliban takeover, we are redoubling our efforts to strengthen the fundamental pillars of Afghan society, starting with its economy.  Guided by the objectives set out in our Transitional Engagement Framework, we will focus on recovering the economy from the bottom up, expanding women’s economic participation and creating more than two million new jobs. With more sustainable sources of income, families will be better equipped to break out of endless cycles of hunger and slowly reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance. The full return of women to work is essential to transforming Afghanistan’s economy, which is why we are working hard to support women-led businesses and expand employment opportunities for women across the country.  Since the majority of people in Afghanistan live in rural areas, we must focus particular attention on sustaining the agricultural economy by strengthening agricultural-food systems and developing stronger links between farmers, food producers and local markets. Our UN team is already implementing these approaches in rural areas across Afghanistan, including in some of the regions affected by the recent earthquakes. Visiting this area in south-eastern Afghanistan earlier this month, one of the young men I met gave me a handwritten note which listed the immediate asks for his village: clean water, homes, education, health, roads and jobs. The message to the UN was clear: support us with these simple requests now and we can better support ourselves through the uncertainties of the future.  As we move forward, we will continue to work to improve the lives of people in Afghan - including women and girls. When the Taliban returned to power last summer, we rapidly scaled up the provision of essential health, education and protection services for women and girls. We have expanded this support in recent months, opening new women friendly health spaces in Kabul for increased access to psychological support; scaling up mobile health teams to reach more vulnerable women and children affected by the earthquakes and rolling out more training programmes for displaced and returnee women through our empowerment centers.   Whatever uncertainties lie ahead, we will place the needs of women and girls at the center of our recovery efforts and will work every day to ensure that they return to work, go back to school, and are able to resume their right to live free and equal lives.   Thinking back to this day last year, I am proud of the support our UN team has provided the people of Afghanistan, and the efforts we have made to prevent some of the worst-case scenarios that we feared from playing out.  Profoundly moved and motivated by ground realities, I look at the challenges ahead, and reiterate our mission to ensure that every person in Afghanistan, including children like the girl from Kunduz, can plan and have a dignified future, well beyond striving for survival today.  By Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan.

In the early 1990s Uzbekistan, the double landlocked country in Central Asia, had just emerged as an independent state from the Soviet Union. With a fragile economy and developing industrial sector, these were challenging times for the newly autonomous country. 

Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, remembers this period well, having spent the early days of his career working for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Regional Office for Central Asia. In Uzbekistan he witnessed first-hand the challenges in expanding healthcare and other essential services. 

"Back in those days the overall developmental context of the country and the challenges experienced were very different from the current level of advancement and development."

Thirty years later, as Dr. Alakbarov returns to the country, Uzbekistan finds itself in a very different position: a key supporter and vital partner in the United Nation’s response to one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies.  

Since the Taliban returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021, humanitarian needs across the country have soared. Ninety-five  per cent of people do not have enough food to eat. 6.6 million people are at risk of famine and one million children are severely malnourished.

As more and more Afghans are forced to rely on humanitarian assistance in order to survive, UN Afghanistan, led by Dr. Alakbarov and his team, have been working with UN agencies to scale up its response. Regional cooperation is key Regional cooperation has been key to enabling the UN’s successful response in Afghanistan, as Dr. Alakbarov learnt during a recent joint mission to Termez in southern Uzbekistan with the Resident Coordinator of Uzbekistan, Ms. Roli Asthana and country representatives from UNICEF and UNHCR. 

Termez is a relatively small city of just over 180, 000 people, but it is playing an outsized role in supporting the UN’s emergency operations across the border in Afghanistan. Termez Regional Humanitarian Logistics Hub is situated 2 km from the border and was the first stop of the Resident Coordinators’ joint visit.

The center was set up in October 2021 by UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency - with strong support from the Government of Uzbekistan. Its proximity to the border means supplies can be moved quickly and easily to where they are needed most.   UNHCR Representative for Afghanistan Leonard Zulu explained to the Resident Coordinators’ delegation how the hub’s location in Termez was vital to enabling a quick and flexible humanitarian response. "Our humanitarian assistance has been brought closer to the Afghanistan operations so that if we need that across the border we can move it as quickly as possible. 

So far we have moved 1000 tons from here mainly to Afghanistan but with the recent crisis in Ukraine we have been using some of the humanitarian assistance to help out in Ukraine as well."  With over 9,000 square meters of storage, the warehouse houses a range of emergency food rations, WASH supplies and other relief items including sleeping mats, tarpaulins, fleece, blankets, and kitchen sets. 
Essential food items, including flour, travel from the hub in Termez to all corners of Afghanistan.

"Some of them are going to Badakhshan via Dushanbe to in Tajikistan, and some will go directly into trucks where they will be sent all over the north of Afghanistan to Kabul, down to Jalalabad, to Kandahar," explains Finne Lucey, a WFP Logistics Officer.  Joining forces across borders The vast amount of supplies moving in and out of the hub every day is not just an impressive logistical feat, but also a testament to the strong cooperation fostered between different UN agencies and the Government of Uzbekistan. 

Speaking to colleagues at the cargo hub, Dr. Alakbarov was struck by the level of inter-agency and cross border collaboration he saw in Termez.   "This is how UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, and our coordination offices are joining forces across borders to deliver aid to the Afghan people. We have reached millions of people in Afghanistan with essential food aid this winter, and we will continue because no one should be left behind." Without the support of the Government of Uzbekistan in providing this high-tech facilitation cargo hub in Termez, it would not be possible to transport such large quantities of aid across the border. 

"The government here has said right from the beginning a priority for them is to make sure that they support the humanitarian operations inside of Afghanistan and they're doing just that", explained Simon Hacker, RCO Uzbekistan Team Leader who joined the Resident Coordinators’ delegation.  

For Dr. Alakbarov the solidarity he saw in Termez was not surprising. Reflecting on his time in Uzbekistan in the late 1990s he remarked:  "Even back then during difficult times, the people of Uzbekistan have always been welcoming, they always care for their neighbors.

It’s heartwarming to see the level of development in the country today, to see this generosity and open attitude towards Afghans, sharing the fruits of their development." Beyond emergency relief   The spirit of neighborly solidarity between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan runs deep, and goes beyond the provision of emergency humanitarian relief - as the Resident Coordinators saw during their second stop of their mission to Termez at an education facility for Afghan students.

The Educational Center for Training Afghan Citizens (ECTAC), which was initially set up in 2017 by the governments of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, delivers a broad range of higher and vocational education and training to Afghans living in Termez. 

In December of 2021, as more and more young Afghans began to cross the border into Uzbekistan, UNDP partnered with ECTAC to launch a new project aimed expanding educational opportunities for Afghan students in Termez, with a particular focus on youth and women. 

The center offers a wider range of courses, from technical and vocational training to languages  and humanities. During a tour of the center, the Resident Coordinators spoke to one of the current students, 17-year-old Shekiba Samadi who was born and raised in Jowzjan province located in the northern part of Afghanistan. 

Sheikia has been studying Uzbek language and literature at the center for the last 3 years.

"I really love reading and literature. During the last 3 years of my stay in Uzbekistan, I got familiarized well with Uzbek history and culture and with the help of my teachers studied foreign languages. Now I can read literature and books in Persian, Pashto, Uzbek, Turkish and Russian languages," she mentions. Ahmad Javid Anis, from Sari Pul province in Afghanistan also studies Uzbek at the Centre. He told Dr. Alakbarov that has become so proficient at the language that he is now translating various Uzbek books into Pashto, including a book written by the President of Uzbekistan. 

"My future dream is to continue doing research in Uzbek language and literature. I also want to educate the younger generation in my home country and to serve the bright future of Afghanistan." Returning to the UN country office in Afghanistan at the end of the joint mission to Termez, Resident Coordinator Dr. Alakbarov felt inspired from what he saw and hopeful despite the challenges ahead. 

Afghanistan remains at a critical juncture. The road ahead for many Afghans may be uncertain, but the joint mission highlighted that the people of Afghanistan can turn to their neighbor to the north for support and solidarity during this extraordinary time. 

Together with other regional UN agencies and partners, the Resident Coordinator’s team in Afghanistan is more determined than ever to scale up its operations and ensure that no one is left behind.

"We are not going to stop. We are going to deliver more and reach every family in Afghanistan." This story was written by Iona Allan of the UN Development Coordination Office with inputs from UN Afghanistan and UN Uzbekistan.  To learn more about the UN humanitarian response in Afghanistan, please read this story.  To learn more about the results of our work in this area and beyond, please read the latest UNSDG Chair Report on DCO.