FDFA to open humanitarian office in Kabul
Published: Sunday, Jan 7th 2024, 11:00
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Switzerland is expected to operate a humanitarian aid office in Kabul again from summer 2024. The plan is for four employees of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) to work in the Afghan capital.
According to current plans, some local employees should also work for the office, wrote Léa Zürcher, spokeswoman for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on Sunday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. She was confirming a report by Sonntagsblick.
According to the FDFA, the presence in Kabul enables a better understanding of the situation on the ground. It also facilitates the monitoring of projects and close coordination with other donor countries. Switzerland hopes that this will lead to more effective support for the civilian population.
The office will not provide consular services. Afghans can continue to apply for visas at the Swiss embassy in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, it said.
The FDFA did not provide any detailed information on the planned security measures. According to Zürcher, the security situation remains complex. However, far-reaching security management will make it possible to minimize the risks as far as possible.
Switzerland had already operated a cooperation office in Kabul until August 2021, which implemented Swiss development aid programs in Afghanistan. However, following the takeover by the Taliban and the withdrawal of the USA and its allies from Afghanistan, the Confederation closed the office.
According to "Sonntagsblick", the new office is to be built at the old location - in the former "Green Zone" of Kabul, where numerous Western embassies used to be located.
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