Afghanistan in 'deep crises' after aid cuts

Climate change, women's rights, displacement, poverty: Afghanistan remains a priority as it faces overlapping crises, the United Nations (UN) relief chief Tom Fletcher said this week, deploring "brutal" aid budget cuts.

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Kunduz - Climate change, women's rights, displacement, poverty: Afghanistan remains a priority as it faces overlapping crises, the United Nations (UN) relief chief Tom Fletcher said this week, deploring "brutal" aid budget cuts.

"We've identified 17 crises across the world where our engagement is most urgent, most vital. Afghanistan is high on that list," said the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs.

Fletcher's visit comes after US President Donald Trump's decision to slash foreign aid sent shock waves across the globe.

Washington had been the top donor to Afghanistan, having spent $3.71 billion (about R68 billion) in humanitarian and development aid since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and imposed a severe interpretation of Islamic law.