The US on Friday pledged an additional $266 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, as Washington continues the ongoing troop withdrawal.
This departure will bring an end to America's involvement in the almost two-decade conflict by September 11.
“This assistance from the American people will help our international humanitarian partners provide support to some of the estimated 18 million people in need in Afghanistan, including more than 4.8 million Afghans internally displaced,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
He added that the funding “will allow our partners to provide life-saving protection, shelter, livelihoods, opportunities, essential health care, emergency food aid, water, sanitation and hygiene services to respond to the needs generated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic".
Mr Blinken said that the aid would also help women and girls facing gender-based violence.
Including the assistance announced on Friday, the US has contributed $3.9 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan since 2002.
However, the country's future remains uncertain as US forces pull out and key members of Congress have threatened to place restrictions on future aid if the Taliban rolls back human rights gains as part of its role in any future government.
US Central Command announced this week that the withdrawal is anywhere between 30 to 44 per cent complete.
Despite the withdrawal, the US-backed Afghan government and the Taliban have yet to arrive at a political settlement to end the long-running war.
“We urge Afghan leaders and the Taliban to accelerate progress towards a negotiated political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to bring an end to over 40 years of conflict and create the conditions that will allow refugees to return to their homes safely,” said Mr Blinken.
The results of the first round are as follows:
Qais Saied (Independent): 18.4 per cent
Nabil Karoui (Qalb Tounes): 15.58 per cent
Abdelfattah Mourou (Ennahdha party): 12.88 per cent
Abdelkarim Zbidi (two-time defence minister backed by Nidaa Tounes party): 10.7 per cent
Youssef Chahed (former prime minister, leader of Long Live Tunisia): 7.3 per cent
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
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