live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
In 2024, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provided critical healthcare services to over a million Afghans through 47 medical centers operated by the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Nearly one million patients accessed primary healthcare services, with women and children accounting for 65% of those treated.
The ICRC’s efforts extended far beyond healthcare, as the organization worked tirelessly to tackle the multifaceted challenges faced by Afghanistan’s population. In addition to offering physical rehabilitation services, the ICRC helped communities establish sustainable livelihoods and incomes, while also improving access to clean water, sanitation, and energy.
The ICRC also reported administering over 300,000 routine vaccinations in 2024 and providing critical support to nearly 9,000 malnourished children through the Afghan Red Crescent Society’s Nutrition Programme across 47 clinics. These efforts addressed both immediate and long-term health needs for vulnerable populations.
The ICRC also maintained its commitment to improving conditions for detainees, conducting regular visits to places of detention to advocate for humane treatment and ensure that the rights of detainees are upheld.
In 2024, the organization reported providing cash assistance to tens of thousands of Afghans to help them meet their basic needs, including food and shelter. That same year, it also supported tens of thousands of farmers by supplying them with agricultural tools, seeds, and fertilizers, enabling them to sustain their livelihoods and contribute to food security in the region.
Additionally, in the same year, the organization helped over a million Afghans in urban areas gain access to clean drinking water. Nearly half a million people also benefited from improved electricity supply, thanks to the support of the ICRC. These initiatives significantly enhanced the quality of life for countless individuals and families across the country.
Despite these efforts, the ICRC emphasized that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remains dire due to decades of conflict, economic instability, and natural disasters, leaving millions without access to healthcare, food, and clean water. While the ICRC’s work in 2024 highlights the critical role of humanitarian aid in alleviating suffering, it also underscores the urgent need for sustained international support to prevent further deterioration and ensure vulnerable populations receive the assistance they desperately need.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
The suspension of two major grain terminals in Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk could increase pressure on Kazakhstan’s agricultural market if Russian exporters divert supplies to Central Asia at discounted prices.
Georgia’s Prime Minister says the EU’s inclusion of a major Black Sea cable project on a key infrastructure list is fresh evidence of the country’s importance to regional energy and digital connectivity.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has dismissed Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan and appointed former parliament speaker Alen Simonyan as his replacement.
Central Asia’s economy has surpassed $543 billion, driven by Kazakhstan’s economic weight, strong exports and foreign investment, while growing trade across Asia points to an increasingly connected region.
The United Nations refugee agency is planning a settlement and carpet-weaving workshop for Afghan returnees in Kabul as the country grapples with large-scale returns and growing pressure on housing, jobs and basic services.
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