Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

Israel donates $500,000 to Afghan refugees as part of UN-led effort

Director-general of the Foreign Ministry Alon Ushpiz said the Jewish state is proud to be part of the international effort to help.

The U.S. State Department, with the help of the Department of Defense, evacuated American and allied civilian personnel from Afghanistan, in addition to Afghan allies safely, on Aug. 18, 20201. Credit: U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Cribelar.
The U.S. State Department, with the help of the Department of Defense, evacuated American and allied civilian personnel from Afghanistan, in addition to Afghan allies safely, on Aug. 18, 20201. Credit: U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Cribelar.

Israel donated $500,000 to the United Nations to pay for food, medical treatment and other aid for Afghan refugees in Tajikistan, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Alon Ushpiz, director-general of the ministry, said Israel is proud to be part of the international effort to help Afghan refugees after the Taliban takeover of the country, reported the AP.

On Tuesday, the United Nations announced an appeal for $5 billion in aid, including $4.4 billion to go to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other partner organizations.

Another $623 million is for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to help more than 6 million Afghan refugees who fled the country, representing about 15 percent of the total population.

UNHCR said that Afghans continue to leave the country, though an estimated 175,000 have returned, according to the report.

“People need to be aware, and institutions need to repair,” Miri Bar-Halpern told JNS. “Clinicians are engaging in activism. It’s not about therapy anymore.”
“One year later, it’s remarkable how much has changed. The situation is far from perfect, but the progress is real, and the world is better for it.”
A 28-year-old Turkish Muslim student who became a vocal defender of Israel after the Oct. 7 attack has been granted asylum in the Jewish state.
Eight of nine parties represented opposed Palestinian statehood, while opposition parties split over their choice for prime minister.