Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) have warned that the suspension of financial aid from the United States threatens the polio eradication program in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hanan Balkhy, the WHO's regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasized the vital role of U.S. financial assistance in the organization's efforts to monitor polio and other communicable diseases during an online press conference. He also described President Trump's announcement of the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO as "regrettable," stating that the country has been a major supporter of the organization's work in the Eastern Mediterranean for decades. He added, "U.S. financial contributions to the fight against and eradication of polio have been truly decisive. Currently, we are in the final phase of polio eradication in the last two countries in the world, Afghanistan and Pakistan." He reaffirmed the WHO's commitment to protecting the world against the resurgence of the polio virus. This comes as Donald Trump, the U.S. president, issued a 90-day halt to nearly all foreign aid last week to review whether these expenditures align with America's prioritization policy. On his first day in office, Trump announced that he would withdraw the United States from the WHO. In his order, he accused the WHO of mismanaging the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises, stating that the organization failed to implement necessary reforms and demonstrate its independence from inappropriate political influence by its member states. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where the polio virus is still circulating and continues to claim victims among children. In 2024, Pakistan reported 73 cases while Afghanistan reported 25 cases of polio. While Afghanistan has not reported any additional cases of polio so far, Pakistani officials reported the first positive case of polio in 2025 last week. Hanan Balkhy emphasized that the organization is ready to implement reforms that the United States wishes to propose. Balkhy added that budget cuts in 2024 had already reduced the organization's critical health operations, stating, "We seek your support to strengthen our message - help us save lives, revitalize health systems, and restore hope to millions."

Zakia Khodadadi, an Afghan para-taekwondo athlete who won a bronze medal as part of the Refugee Team at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games a few months ago, has been nominated for the title of Athlete of the Year 2024 by the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP) in France. In a press release, the institute stated that Zakia Khodadadi is the first member of INSEP to win a medal in the Olympic competitions. It is worth mentioning that the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (Institut National du sport, de l'expertise et de la performance) is a full-time sports and educational institution and a center for training elite athletes located in the outskirts of Paris. Zakia Khodadadi sought refuge at INSEP in France after the political regime change in Afghanistan in 2021, where she continued her training under the guidance of Habib Niaré, a former Olympic medalist from France. The bronze medal at the Paris Olympics represents not only a sporting achievement for Zakia Khodadadi but also a symbol of resilience and perseverance against adversity for athletes around the world. This Afghan female athlete became the European champion in para-taekwondo in 2023. She previously stated in interviews that she began practicing taekwondo at the age of 11. She trained secretly in a gym in her hometown of Herat because there were simply no other opportunities for women to safely engage in sports in Afghanistan. While Ms. Khodadadi has been nominated for the INSEP Athlete of the Year award, it has been over three years since the current government has prohibited girls above sixth grade from attending school, university, and participating in sports in Afghanistan. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of female students being deprived of education. It is also noteworthy that women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in both domestic and international NGOs as well as offices of the United Nations in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the caretaker government has reacted to the report from UNAMA's Human Rights section, denying the imposition of restrictions on women without a male guardian by the ministry's officials. In a statement released today (Tuesday, January 28), the ministry claimed that this report is "far from reality and based on a Western viewpoint." On Monday, January 27, the Human Rights section of UNAMA published a report stating that the requirement for women to have a male guardian, which is not clearly explained in the law on Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has created further obstacles for women, including access to public services, employment, and activities outside the home. UNAMA reported receiving information that officials from the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have instructed health clinics, shops, markets, and restaurants not to provide services to women without a male guardian. However, the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has described this part of UNAMA's report as "untrue" and an attempt to discredit the ministry. The ministry emphasized that there is no such stipulation in their law on Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, and that a male guardian is only deemed necessary for women traveling more than 72 kilometers. Additionally, UNAMA stated in part of its report that officials from the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice impose arbitrary restrictions that are not included in the law. For example, UNAMA mentioned that in October 2024, the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice office in Hazrat Sultan district of Samangan issued written instructions to drivers prohibiting women from sitting in the front seat of vehicles. In November, officials instructed female nurses working in the emergency department of a private hospital in Kabul to stop working there and instead work in areas designated for women, such as obstetrics and gynecology. The Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has rejected claims of imposing restrictions on the rights of women and girls, stating that UNAMA should also report on the ministry's achievements in preventing violence against women and facilitating their access to alimony, inheritance, and dowry. The ministry has also requested that UNAMA consider "the religious and cultural values of the people" in its reports and refrain from unrealistic criticisms.

The Afghanistan Human Rights Center has announced that depriving girls of their right to education in the country has led to an increase in cases of forced and underage marriages, with female students being the primary victims. The rights monitoring organization stated in a report published on Monday, January 29, titled "Women's Access to Quality Education in Afghanistan Under the Interim Government's Control," that the ban on education for women and girls has had devastating consequences for Afghan women, girls, and society as a whole. The report highlights the negative impacts of preventing girls from accessing education, including social isolation, rendering women inactive members of their families, increasing cases of forced and underage marriages, enduring domestic violence, suffering from mental health issues, and even resorting to suicide or forced migration. The report further reveals that the organization has found a "worrying percentage" of female students forced into marriages after being denied access to education. While there is no precise data on the matter yet, the Afghanistan Human Rights Center noted that 10 individuals interviewed for the report had witnessed 34 cases of forced and underage marriages among students in their communities. One of the victims, Momena (a pseudonym) from Takhar province, who was forced into marriage with a member of the current government forces, stated that she knows 10 of her classmates and village girls who were also forced into marriages with individuals they did not wish to marry after being deprived of education. The organization added that, despite existing restrictions, it managed to directly or indirectly interview 15 students and victims of forced and underage marriages. Findings from the research show that 91% of these marriages occurred without the girls' consent. Additionally, 66% of the victims of forced marriages (from the sample group) were under the age of 18. The report recounts the story of Faiza (a pseudonym) from Herat, who was forced to marry a 25-year-old man at the age of 14. Similarly, it mentions Hamida (a pseudonym), a student from Badakhshan, who was forced to marry a 38-year-old local commander one year after leaving school at the age of 15. The commander, who serves the current government, had been married twice before, and both of his previous wives now live with Hamida in the same house. The assessment by the Afghanistan Human Rights Center also found that 66% of the victims of forced and underage marriages were school students, while 33% were university students. Furthermore, 83% of these victims reported experiencing physical violence from their husbands, fathers, brothers, or in-laws. The report stated that 91% of them suffer from severe mental health issues and depression, while 25% said they had contemplated suicide. Previously, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, also stated in an interview that the ban on education for girls above sixth grade has had a devastating impact on Afghan girls.

The girls' karate team of Afghan refugees in Iran achieved the runner-up position in the second round of the Asian Shotokan Championships. The team secured three gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals in this competition. The second round of the Asian Shotokan Championships was held last week (Monday to Thursday, January 22–25) in Tehran, Iran, with the participation of 2,500 athletes from five countries. The Afghan refugee girls' karate team in Iran secured second place in the team rankings at this tournament. Narges Rezaei, Hania Sadaqat, and Aziza Mohammadi won gold medals; Donya Rezaei and Kimia Mohammadi won silver medals; and Mottahera Hosseini and Sarina Rahmati claimed bronze medals. The Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth announced that the women’s division of the competition included teams from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Additionally, the Afghan men's team secured third place in the tournament, competing against athletes from Iran, Iraq, Oman, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. According to the Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth, the tournament featured 2,500 athletes, including 1,900 women. This achievement comes despite the Taliban interim government banning women's sports after taking power. Following the ban, all national women’s teams were suspended, women-only sports facilities were closed, and many athletes were forced to migrate to neighboring and other countries. However, some of these girls continued their training after migration and succeeded in winning various medals as part of refugee teams.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the leader of Pakistan's Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, referred to the ban on girls' education by Afghanistan's interim government and stated that more pressing issues take precedence over girls' education in Afghanistan. The leader of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party made these remarks yesterday (Sunday, January 27) at a gathering in Quetta, Pakistan. He said, "Afghanistan has major problems, and other issues take priority over education. Afghanistan's freedom and the establishment of a united government are more important than anything else." In another part of his speech, he emphasized, "We do not want to divide Pakistan, but if Pakistan interferes in Afghanistan and we have the power, we will prevent it. We will not allow anyone to harm Afghanistan." He added, "Our party supports whoever is in power in Afghanistan. I declare that I consider myself Afghanistan's foreign minister, and anyone with concerns about Afghanistan must address them through me. The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party supports anyone who works to preserve Afghanistan's territorial integrity and freedom." He also highlighted Pakistan's treatment of Afghan refugees, saying, "Pakistan should issue identification documents to those Afghan refugees who were born and raised in this country. If this is not done, we will take the matter to international courts." He stated that Afghanistan's freedom is intertwined with the freedom of Pashtuns in Pakistan and reiterated that Pakistan is neither Islamic nor a republic. Mahmood Khan Achakzai criticized the Pakistani government's disregard for Pashtun rights and stressed that Pashtuns should enjoy equal rights like other ethnic groups in Pakistan.

Following the suspension of U.S. foreign aid at the direction of President Donald Trump, flights for over 40,000 Afghan citizens to the United States have been halted. Reuters reports, citing two American sources, that these individuals include those who were seeking to travel to the United States with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV). Shawn Vandiver, president of the Refugee Advocacy Coalition, stated that most of the individuals hoping to come to the U.S. are currently in Afghanistan, while others are in Pakistan, Qatar, and Albania. The report notes that this coalition is working with the U.S. government to evacuate and resettle Afghan citizens who worked for the United States during the 20-year war. According to Reuters, the order to suspend aid has led to a halt in funding for groups that assist SIV holders in the U.S. with finding housing, education, and employment. Shawn Vandiver expressed hope that the U.S. government would grant exemptions for SIV holders since they worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan. The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Vandiver and an unnamed U.S. official stated that the suspension of flights for over 40,000 Afghan citizens, including SIV holders waiting to fly to the United States from visa processing centers in Qatar and Albania, has left them in limbo. They emphasized that this number includes Afghans approved for SIV who have been waiting in Afghanistan and Pakistan to be placed on U.S.-funded flights to processing centers in Doha and Tirana for their visas. According to Reuters, since the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021, nearly 200,000 Afghan citizens have been resettled in the United States with SIVs or as refugees. This comes as Trump signed an executive order last week just hours after his inauguration, suspending all refugee resettlement programs in the United States. Under his directive, U.S. foreign aid has also been suspended. According to a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), since the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, the United States has provided or made available a total of $21.06 billion in aid to Afghanistan and Afghan refugees. The report indicates that this funding includes nearly $3.33 billion that the United States has provided for humanitarian and developmental assistance to Afghanistan.

On the occasion of World Education Day, the World Food Programme has stated that no child should ever be forced to choose between food and education. In a message posted on its X account, the organization noted that it provides "nutritious meals" for over 700,000 students in Afghanistan. The United Nations World Food Programme emphasized that these snacks help students "focus, learn, and build the bright future they deserve." It is worth mentioning that January 24 marks World Education Day. The United Nations states that it has been 1,225 days since the current government's ban on education for girls above the sixth grade. Additionally, after regaining control of Afghanistan, the interim government prohibited girls above the sixth grade from attending school and subsequently closed the doors of universities to girls as well. In a recent move, it has also banned girls from studying in medical institutes, thus completely depriving them of access to formal education. Alongside this, women and girls have been prohibited from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, and even at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

The Norwegian Refugee Council has stated that citizens of Afghanistan have been enduring the worst humanitarian crisis for over three years, pointing to a decrease in global community aid aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. In a statement, the council noted that millions, including vulnerable women and children, are living in dire conditions and are facing temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees during the winter months. The statement continued that, with the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country, it is essential for international aid organizations to increase their efforts and provide assistance to those in need more than ever before. Jan Egeland, the head of the council who visited Afghanistan last week, mentioned that after decades of conflict, economic collapse, and devastating climate changes, the trend of Afghan migrants returning from neighboring countries has intensified, putting millions of citizens at risk of expulsion from neighboring countries. This senior official of the Norwegian Refugee Council, who recently visited the border point between Afghanistan and Iran, stated that many citizens who left their homeland for a better life and migrated to neighboring countries are now at risk of forced expulsion. He emphasized that these migrants are returning to Afghanistan while facing an uncertain future filled with unemployment, poverty, hunger, and other challenges. According to information from the Norwegian Refugee Council, Iran is attempting to expel at least two million migrants by March of this year, while Pakistan has expelled 800,000 Afghan migrants since October 2023. Jan Egeland also expressed concern over the severe restrictions imposed on women and girls by the interim government, stating that these restrictions will have negative impacts in various sectors. He added that the current government's recent ban on girls' education in medical institutes will directly affect women's health in the country and threaten their work and lives more than ever before. This comes at a time when the current government has imposed numerous restrictions on women and girls since regaining power in Afghanistan. This group banned girls from attending secondary and high schools in September 2021 and subsequently deprived women of education in universities and employment in non-governmental organizations in December 2022.

Jan Egeland, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, states that Donald Trump's decision to suspend foreign aid from the United States is concerning. Egeland posted a message on his X account, stating that this is very bad news for Afghanistan. He emphasized: "The 90-day suspension of US foreign aid by Trump is a terrifying event for the displaced and hungry girls of Afghanistan." Egeland further added that Afghanistan should be exempt from this directive. The Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council also noted that women and girls in Afghanistan face even more obstacles regarding healthcare and education. In part of his message, he stressed his support for the international community's call to assist Afghanistan. It is worth mentioning that citizens of the country expect the new US administration to adopt an appropriate approach that considers the interests of the people regarding Afghanistan. They are urging Trump to pressure the current government to help Afghanistan emerge from international isolation and its crisis conditions. After the inauguration ceremony, Donald Trump signed an order indicating that humanitarian aid from the US to foreign countries would be suspended for 90 days to assess whether this aid serves America's interests. Additionally, Trump recently announced that the US is withdrawing from the World Health Organization.