The Danish Red Cross has pledged to expand its humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by working through the Afghan Red Crescent Society, Taliban said in a statement on Sunday.
The announcement followed a meeting between Johanna, the regional head of the Danish Red Cross for Asia and Europe, and Shahabuddin Delawar, who heads the Afghan Red Crescent under the Taliban administration.
According to the statement, the Danish Red Cross committed to providing additional aid for communities affected by recent earthquakes in Kunar Province, including winter assistance for displaced families.
Ms. Johanna has not made a public statement confirming the reported commitments. As of Sunday, the Danish Red Cross had not issued any comment regarding the meeting or the nature of the aid.
In the meeting, Delawar said the Taliban welcome “any humanitarian program that helps improve the lives of the Afghan people,” according to the statement.
The reported pledge comes at a time when many international aid organizations have scaled back or suspended operations in Afghanistan in response to the Taliban’s restrictions on women working for NGOs and humanitarian agencies.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that such restrictions are undermining the delivery of life-saving assistance. In an earlier statement to Amu TV, UNAMA said that humanitarian operations at the Islam Qala border — a major reentry point for Afghan returnees — were suspended starting in early November due to the bans.
“These restrictions create immediate operational challenges and heighten risks for returnees, particularly women and girls,” UNAMA said.
