UK pledges cooperation with ARCS on returnees, humanitarian aid — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): The UK has pledged to cooperate with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) in supporting returning refugees and providing humanitarian assistance next year. In a statement, the ARCS said its chief, Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar, met Richard Lindsay, the UK’s special representative for Afghanistan, to discuss the country’s humanitarian situation, the needs of vulnerable people and ways to expand aid. The two sides discussed assistance to people affected by natural disasters, Afghan refugees returning from neighbouring countries and other vulnerable groups, particularly in meeting their basic needs, the statement said. Delawar thanked the UK for its humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected people and briefed Lindsay on the society’s humanitarian and healthcare activities. He highlighted cardiac treatment for children with congenital heart conditions at the society’s specialised hospital, vocational training and skills development programmes for vulnerable women and children in seven regional zones, mental health treatment and assistance to people affected by natural disasters. Delawar said decades of hardship had left many Afghans facing mental health problems, while vulnerable families continued to face numerous challenges and needed extensive humanitarian and healthcare assistance. Referring to Afghans recently returned from neighbouring countries, he said they needed shelter, food, non-food items and healthcare services. He called for greater British support to ease returnees’ difficulties and help meet their basic needs. Lindsay praised the Afghan…