All articles tagged with #humanitarian issues
Several Israeli hostages freed from Gaza have returned home after enduring severe hardships, including weight loss and physical trauma, with details emerging of their difficult captivity in Gaza tunnels, highlighting the ongoing human toll of the conflict.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, David Satterfield, has been appointed as the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues. In this role, Satterfield will focus on ensuring life-saving assistance reaches vulnerable people throughout the Middle East. His appointment comes as Israel prepares for a ground invasion into Gaza following a surprise attack on its southern border by Hamas militants. Satterfield's diplomatic experience and expertise in navigating challenging conflicts will be instrumental in addressing humanitarian issues in the region, including providing urgent assistance to the Palestinian people in coordination with the U.N., Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and other stakeholders.
US diplomats will hold rare direct talks with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, to discuss humanitarian issues and "critical interests" in Afghanistan, including economic stabilization, security, and efforts to counter narcotics production and trafficking. The US does not recognize the Taliban government and has imposed sanctions against the group. The Taliban has faced international condemnation for its restrictions on women's education and other human rights abuses. Afghanistan continues to face a humanitarian crisis, with almost half of its population receiving assistance from the World Food Programme. The Taliban has expressed a willingness to work with the US if sanctions are lifted. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 sparked domestic backlash and internal reviews criticizing both the Biden and Trump administrations for shortcomings in the operation.