US provides $60m for Afghan refugees, hosts

Sweden takes lead in the European Union corridors

The United States say they are grateful to Pakistan for graciously sheltering Afghan refugees for more than four decades, and are delighted to continue our assistance for this good cause. US Ambassador Donald Blome says since 2002, the US has donated more than $273 million (almost Rs 62 billion) in humanitarian aid to Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan. The United States alone provided almost $60 million (more than Rs 13 billion) in support to refugees and host communities in Fiscal Year 2022.

This US assistance is increasing school enrollment for Afghan and Pakistani children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan; improving Pakistani healthcare services and boosting nutrition programmes in areas hosting Afghans; promoting livelihood activities for refugees and host communities; improving water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure; and supporting recovery from the health and economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Thanks to the generous and compassionate support of the American people, UNHCR was on the ground immediately to respond to the devastating floods of 2022 – providing life-saving relief items to Pakistanis and Afghan refugees,” noted UNHCR Representative to Pakistan Noriko Yoshida. “The invaluable support of the United States has also been felt across the entirety of the UNHCR program – from increasing girls’ access to formal and informal education, saving lives through donations of critical equipment in provincial hospitals, and also allowing entrepreneurs to thrive thanks to an increase in vocational and skills training.”

UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Abdullah Fadil added, “Thanks to generous support from the United States, UNICEF has been able to make a positive difference in the lives of Afghan refugees and the Pakistani host communities living next to them. We have helped prevent and treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, establish maternal and neonatal services which help mothers and newborns survive, and provide families with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. We have also supported girls’ and boys’ access to education so that they too can one day become agents of sustainable change within their communities.”

Since the beginning of 2022, US humanitarian assistance for Afghan refugees and host communities has also improved health infrastructure in refugee-hosting areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The United States supported UNFPA and UNICEF to conduct renovations to health facilities, including updating labour rooms and purchasing advanced newborn care equipment, furniture, and patient care equipment.

In addition, health facilities received solar panels that ensure a continuous electricity supply. With US funding, UNICEF also helped families access essential health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene services in 70 health facilities and provided nearly 50,000 mothers and close to 110,000 children with preventative and curative nutrition services.

Pakistan’s Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Saleem Khan said, “We are grateful to the US government for their generous contributions towards the welfare of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and assistance to the host communities.”

Sweden holds the presidency of the EU Council

We are watching the recent change of heads at the EU Council presidency as Sweden replaces the Czech Republic on January 1 as the council president.

Ironically, our Foreign Office is mum at this major shuffle since Sweden is considered to have a soft corner for Islamabad. It will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union until July 1 and has identified the issues it will prioritise during its term.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari should not waste time in reaching out to Sweden since according to documents prepared by the Swedish presidency, security, competitiveness, the environment, energy transition, democratic values and the rule of law will be the main topics.

“Sweden is taking over the presidency at a time when the European Union is facing unprecedented challenges. A greener, safer, and freer Europe is the basis of our priorities,” said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

The country will prioritise the continuation of military and economic support to Ukraine and believes that Ukraine’s EU accession process should also be supported and further steps are taken to rebuild the country.

In foreign policy, Sweden will give priority to Russia.

Stockholm is also keen to intensify contacts with the countries concerned.

Referring to the importance of the security situation in the Balkans, it stated that stability and security in the eastern Mediterranean are in the EU’s strategic interest.

Sweden also believes that cooperation and mutually beneficial relations with Türkiye are important for the EU’s strategic interests.

The Swedish government, which advocates keeping the transatlantic ties with the US strong, will also try to direct its economic policies in the environment brought by the protectionist economic decisions of the US administration that may adversely affect the European countries.

The writer is an ICFJ fellow and teaches mediatisation at IIUI