Head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), Mawlavi Muti-ul-Haq Khalis, recently convened a meeting with Christine Cipolla, the Regional Director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Asia.

The purpose of their discussion, as outlined in a press release, was to address the pressing matter of humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.

During the meeting, Mawlavi Muti-ul-Haq Khalis shed light on the multitude of challenges faced by the Afghan people and stressed the urgent need for substantial support in these difficult circumstances.

Notably, the ARCS has directed its focus this year towards assisting vulnerable groups such as widows, beggars, mental health patients, and children with heart defects, all of which require significant funding. Mawlavi Muti-ul-Haq Khalis called upon countries and charitable organizations worldwide to extend their support to the Afghan Red Crescent during this critical period.

Mawlavi Mati-ul-Haq Khalis further expounded on the predicament faced by several willing donors who are unable to directly send their aid to Afghanistan due to World Bank sanctions. This obstacle has hindered the progress of relief efforts, despite numerous attempts to find a solution that has yet to yield positive results.

In response, Christine Cipolla, the ICRC's Regional Director for Asia, underscored the necessity of attracting substantial aid for Afghanistan by engaging new donors. She expressed the ICRC's unwavering commitment to intensify their efforts in this regard, with a particular focus on Arab countries as potential future contributors to Afghanistan's welfare. Stressing the importance of collaborative efforts, she emphasized the need for cooperation to achieve the desired outcomes.

The meeting between Mawlavi Muti-ul-Haq Khalis and Christine Cipolla highlights their shared objective of mobilizing humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. Determined efforts will be made to surmount existing challenges, enlist new donors, and secure the support necessary to alleviate the hardships faced by the Afghan population. (ILKHA)