Celebrating 96 years of impartial service of the Afghan Red Crescent; Concerns over humanitarian budget cuts and indifference to climate change

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: World Red Crescent Day was celebrated today (Thursday, May 8) in the presence of officials of the Islamic Emirate, representatives of the International Red Cross, partner institutions, ambassadors of countries, and representatives of charitable organizations in Kabul.

 

Noorul Haq Anwar, Head of the Department of Affairs, reading the message of the Prime Minister, considered addressing the problems of the people to be one of the best acts of worship and emphasized the role of the Afghan Red Crescent Society in serving the deprived and oppressed, especially the war wounded and returnees from neighboring countries, and called for the cooperation of international institutions in this regard.

 

Maulvi Shahabuddin Dilawar, Head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, called this day a symbol of coordination and empathy in helping the needy and, referring to the 96 years of impartial activity of this society in providing health and support services to orphans and unaccompanied women across the country, announced the provision of health and essential services to returnee refugees and the birth of 63 babies in border camps. He also spoke about the activities of more than 10,000 volunteers active in Kabul and other provinces during disasters and the progress of Afghanistan in the field of development projects.

 

Delawar also mentioned the efforts to treat 15 to 16 thousand children with heart defects and the cost of 300 million Afghanis in this regard, the collection and treatment of four million addicts, the organization of beggars and attention to mental patients, and reported the treatment of 200 women with mental illness caused by the war in Kabul.

 

Maulvi Mati-ul-Haq Khalis, Head of Environmental Protection, considered the purpose of this program to remind the importance of kindness to the needy and emphasized the efforts of the Afghan Red Crescent Society in providing humanitarian services with the help of volunteers and called for international support and expanding cooperation between aid organizations and the International Red Cross with this community.

 

Maulvi Khalis also warned that failure to change the diplomatic methods of international organizations towards Afghanistan will make the process of collecting aid difficult and the lack of humanitarian aid will stop providing services to the needy.

 

Martin, a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), emphasized the continued cooperation of humanitarian organizations to help the people of Afghanistan. Referring to the ongoing activities of these organizations and their close cooperation with the Afghan Red Crescent Society, he expressed concern about the reduction in the budget of humanitarian organizations.

 

He also warned against the inattention of developed countries to the serious risks posed by climate change to many countries and called for increased cooperation between international and domestic organizations to confront this crisis and help the affected people in Afghanistan.