I’m a freelance journalist in Toronto, Ontario. My main focuses are political, Indigenous and environmental news, and I’m also very interested in Latin American politics, which is a big chunk of the international news segment I cover.

I’ve been writing for six years for various publications, ...

‘Flight ready’ LGBTQI+ refugees stuck in limbo

01 Oct 2023  |  asianpacificpost.com  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Rainbow Railroad, an organization advocating for LGBTQI+ refugees, is urging the Canadian government to form a formal partnership to help evacuate 300 Afghan refugees who are 'flight-ready' but stuck in neighboring countries. Despite ongoing communication, the government has yet to provide a clear commitment. The organization emphasizes the urgent need for a pathway and mechanism for resettlement, as LGBTQI+ refugees face severe risks in countries that criminalize same-sex relations. The Canadian government has cited various obstacles, including unstable conditions and documentation issues, impacting the resettlement process. Rainbow Railroad and other organizations continue to push for immediate and specialized support for these vulnerable individuals.

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Afghanistan Crisis LGBTQI+ Rights Refugees

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Obaidullah Baheer is a journalist based in Washington, United States of America.

It's time to unfreeze Afghanistan's assets – the Taliban are here to stay

17 Dec 2021  |  The National  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

The article argues for the unfreezing of Afghanistan's assets, emphasizing the dire humanitarian crisis and the need for a functioning economy. It clarifies misconceptions about the nature of the funds and proposes a monitored, step-wise release to private banks and later, potentially, to the Taliban with strict conditions. The piece highlights the Taliban's internal social contract and the potential for ISIS-K to attract defectors. It criticizes sanctions as ineffective and harmful to the general population, and stresses the need for engagement with the Taliban to coordinate aid distribution and avoid a worsening humanitarian disaster. The author suggests that the US's peace deal with the Taliban has inadvertently granted them legitimacy and that sanctions may be perceived as punishing the Afghan population rather than the Taliban. The article concludes that engagement with the Taliban is essential to prevent Afghanistan from becoming 'hell on earth'.

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Humanitarian Crisis Afghanistan Crisis International Relations

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Anna Conkling is a freelance journalist from New York. Her work focuses on current events, climate change, the war in Ukraine, and pop culture.

Meet the women running illegal, underground Zoom schools for Afghan girls

02 Nov 2023  |  www.dailydot.com  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

In Afghanistan, under the Taliban regime that forbids teaching girls past sixth grade, women are secretly running underground schools, including virtual platforms like Zoom and Google Meet. Despite challenges such as poor internet access and economic hardships, these schools offer education to girls and young women. A teacher, referred to as 'Fatima', shared her experiences and the difficulties faced, including the risk of execution if discovered by the Taliban. The article highlights the stark contrast in women's rights and education before and after the Taliban's takeover, the emergence of underground schools, and the determination of educators like Fatima to continue teaching despite the absence of international support.

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Afghanistan Crisis Education Women's Rights

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Valentina Di Donato is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. From pasta to politics: I Often write and talk about the Vatican, Italian politics, the migrant crisis, culture, and tourism.

The Iconic ‘Afghan Girl’ Who Graced National Geographic Cover Is Given Refugee Status In Italy

25 Nov 2021  |  Forbes  |  English  |  Refugee Crisis

Sharbat Gula, famously known as the 'Afghan Girl' from National Geographic's cover, has been granted refugee status in Italy. The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi, facilitated her evacuation from Afghanistan amidst the Taliban's takeover. Gula, who gained global recognition through Steve McCurry's photograph, had previously faced legal issues in Pakistan. Now in Italy, she is set to integrate into Italian society as part of a broader initiative to assist Afghan citizens. This move is part of a larger effort by Western countries to evacuate Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban's resurgence.

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Afghanistan Conflict Refugee Crisis

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Elyaas Ehsas is an accomplished Afghan exiled journalist based in Paris, with extensive experience in the field. Passionate about storytelling and committed to factual reporting, Elyaas's career has been shaped by a dedication to shedding light on critical issues. Having contributed insightful ...

Afghan Journalists in the Pakistani Deadlock

15 Feb 2023  |  L'Humanité  |  French  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Afghan journalists, including Samiullah Jahesh and Marzia Khodabakhsh, are stranded in Pakistan facing financial hardship and threats to their lives after fleeing Taliban control in Afghanistan. Despite efforts by organizations like Reporters Without Borders and the International Federation of Journalists, and advocacy by the National Union of Journalists, the response from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been perceived as disengaged. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has recorded over 200 human rights violations against journalists since August 2021. Journalists are urgently appealing to the French government for visa assistance, fearing for their safety as Pakistan tightens its policy against foreigners. The situation highlights the precarious state of press freedom and the need for international support for Afghan journalists.

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Afghanistan Crisis Journalism Human Rights

Adam Ferguson (b.1978) was born and grew up in regional New South Wales, Australia before studying photography at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University.
Upon graduating Ferguson received a Griffith University Peace Scholarship involving him in his first international assignment in ...

Escaping Kabul: How New York Times Employees Got Out of Afghanistan

23 Dec 2021  |  www.nytimes.com  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

More than 120 New York Times employees and their families faced a harrowing escape from Kabul after the Taliban takeover. The evacuation required an uneasy collaboration between U.S. Marines and Taliban fighters. The article details the chaos, violence, and emotional toll experienced by the evacuees, highlighting the efforts of Times correspondents Mujib Mashal and Thomas Gibbons-Neff. The narrative underscores the collapse of the Afghan government, the desperation of the people, and the complex dynamics between the Taliban and the evacuating forces.

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Afghanistan Crisis Taliban Takeover Evacuation

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I'm Stephanie Findlay, I work for the Financial Times in Hong Kong as Asia Companies and Markets Editor

Crisis in Afghanistan: The Complex Network of Parallel Taxes and Informal Economy that Financed the Taliban

01 Oct 2023  |  www.cronista.com  |  Spanish  |  Afghanistan Crisis

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has placed the country's formal economy under their control, but they are not unfamiliar with economic management due to their shadow administration during their insurgency. While the Taliban's income from drug trade is significant, their primary revenue comes from taxes on legal goods like fuel and cigarettes. The U.S. has blocked access to Afghanistan's central bank reserves, and the IMF has withheld funds, but the Taliban's control over border crossings and the informal economy provides some financial insulation. The Taliban must quickly address potential financial crises to maintain state functions. Corruption under the previous government allowed the Taliban to gain support from Afghans tired of bribery. Despite assurances of normalcy, many Afghans withdrew savings and fled the country. The Taliban have expanded their tax base, including traditional religious taxes and levies on goods in transit. The production of methamphetamine has also become a significant revenue source. The Taliban claim they want to avoid drug trade and seek international help for alternative crops. Economic challenges are expected to increase, with the Taliban now fully responsible for the country's governance.

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Afghanistan Crisis Taliban Financing Informal Economy

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Mellissa Fung is a freelance journalist based in London, United Kingdom. After a 20 year career at the CBC in television news, long form reporting, and radio, she is now contributing to various news organisations, including the Toronto Star and the Huffington Post.  She's currently co-directing a ...

Opinion: All refugees – from Ukraine, Afghanistan, or anywhere else – need to be treated with equal compassion

04 Mar 2022  |  The Globe and Mail  |  English  |  Refugee Crisis

The article emphasizes the need for equal compassion towards all refugees, whether from Ukraine, Afghanistan, or elsewhere. It highlights the dire situations in both Ukraine, under Russian attack, and Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, and criticizes the potential biases in how refugees from different regions are treated. The author calls for Canada to uphold its commitment to resettle refugees from Afghanistan while also welcoming those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

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Taliban Rule in Afghanistan Refugee Crisis War in Ukraine

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Journalist in Kathmandu, often with BBC Travel, der Spiegel, Stern, the Scotsman and other German and British media. 
Former senior foreign correspondent in Brussels covering EU affairs. Worked in broadcast, but still prefer print and photography. 
I usually write in English and German, but can ...

‘If I can get a plane into the sky, I can do anything’: female Afghan pilot refuses to be grounded

16 Nov 2021  |  the Guardian  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Mohadese Mirzaee, Afghanistan's first female commercial airline pilot, reflects on her journey and the abrupt end to her career following the Taliban's takeover. Despite the challenges, including being uprooted from her home and losing her job, Mirzaee remains determined to fly again and is seeking pilot opportunities globally. Her story highlights the broader plight of Afghan women under the Taliban regime, which has stripped them of their jobs and freedoms.

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Afghanistan Crisis Women's Rights Taliban Takeover

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Edmund Kagire is a journalist based in Kigali, Rwanda. The 35-year old award-winning Rwandan Journalist was until the end of 2018 was working with The East African & Rwanda Today newspapers owned by Nation Media Group (NMG), with 12 years of practice.

Currently he has diverted into freelance ...

Afghan Schoolgirls' New Life in Rwanda Amid UN Controversy

01 Apr 2023  |  KT PRESS  |  English  |  Afghanistan Conflict

The article discusses the evacuation of girls from the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA) to Rwanda amidst the Taliban takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021. The girls' escape was facilitated by the UN's International Organisation for Migration, and they are now continuing their education in Rwanda. The article contrasts the UN's support for the girls' relocation to Rwanda with the UNHCR's criticism of the UK Government's plan to send migrants to Rwanda, which was deemed unlawful by the UK Supreme Court. The author highlights Rwanda's role in providing sanctuary to the Afghan girls and other refugees, and questions the inconsistency in the UN's stance on Rwanda's safety. The piece also includes the Rwandan government's response to the Supreme Court's judgment and the criticism it has faced from various UK entities.

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Refugee Crisis Afghanistan Conflict Education International Relations Human Rights

Shafi Karimi is an award-winning multimedia journalist and writer who has been covering Afghanistan for the past 8 years, including reporting on the 2021 Taliban takeover. He is now based in France, and works for a range of international outlets, including France24 Television, Vice news, Mail ...

The month they spent under Taliban rule was one of the darkest chapters of the lesbian couple’s lives.

17 Nov 2021  |  www.vice.com  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

The article tells the harrowing story of a lesbian couple's experience living under the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan. The couple, who remained anonymous for safety reasons, recounted the abrupt change in Kabul the day the Taliban took over and their subsequent fear for their lives due to their sexual orientation. Despite the challenges they faced even before the Taliban's return, including lack of legal protections for LGBTQ individuals and societal pressures, they managed to flee to Pakistan with the help of an international organization. The Taliban's spokesperson reaffirmed the administration's stance against same-sex relations. The couple now hopes to move to a European country or the US where they can marry legally and advocate for LGBTQ rights in Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan Crisis LGBTQ Rights Taliban Rule

Nicola Kelly has reported for BBC Radio 4's flagship 'From Our Own Correspondent' and World Service programmes 'Newshour', 'Newsday', 'World Update', 'World Business Report' and 'Focus on Africa'.

Field report and produce mixed packages, interview, dispatches, live and pre-recorded two-ways. 

...

Panic attacks and malnutrition: Afghan family on what life is like in UK

15 Aug 2023  |  www.aol.co.uk  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

An Afghan family, previously involved in peace-building charity work and employed by the former president Ashraf Ghani, fled Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Despite their harrowing journey and over a year in a UK hotel, they face malnutrition, mental health issues, and bureaucratic delays in their asylum process. The family's situation highlights broader issues with the UK's handling of Afghan refugees, including slow processing by the Home Office, eviction notices, and the risk of homelessness. Opposition figures criticize the government's approach as chaotic and insufficient, while the family remains in limbo, awaiting a decision on their future.

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Afghanistan Crisis Immigration Asylum Seekers

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Michal Kranz is a journalist based in New York City.

Afghans in US immigration limbo watch Ukrainians breeze through

20 Jul 2022  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Afghans who worked with US forces face severe delays and discriminatory treatment in their immigration processes compared to Ukrainians, leading to significant psychological distress. Despite promises of amnesty, the Taliban's restrictions and threats have forced many into hiding. The US Department of Homeland Security and other agencies are criticized for their handling of Afghan applications, with a lawsuit filed by the ACLU highlighting arbitrary changes in standards. The disparity in treatment has left many Afghans feeling hopeless and abandoned.

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Afghanistan Crisis Immigration US Politics

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Joanna Lillis is a journalist based in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Don’t forget Afghanistan, pleads Uzbekistan, as Ukraine war rages

31 Mar 2022  |  www.intellinews.com  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Amid the Ukraine war, a meeting in China to discuss Afghanistan became a platform for geopolitical posturing. Russia warned against US or NATO military presence in Central Asia and blamed the West for crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Uzbekistan's deputy foreign minister, Vladimir Norov, urged the international community to maintain focus on Afghanistan, warning against its neglect. China echoed calls for the US and NATO to take responsibility for Afghanistan's reconstruction. The meeting concluded with a joint statement urging responsible countries to fulfill their commitments to Afghanistan's recovery.

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Afghanistan Crisis Geopolitics War in Ukraine

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Alastair McCready is editor for regional magazine Southeast Asia Globe, based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He is able to provide editing, photography and reporting, as well as contacts in country and across the region.

His Son Fell From a US Plane During the Taliban Takeover. A Year On, Life Is ‘Hell.’

15 Aug 2022  |  www.vice.com  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Zakir Rezayee recounts the tragic loss of his son Zabi, who fell from a U.S. military plane during the chaotic evacuation of Kabul following the Taliban takeover. A year later, Rezayee and his family continue to suffer from grief, poverty, and the uncertainty surrounding the fate of his other son, Zaki. The article highlights the broader humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, exacerbated by the Taliban's oppressive rule and the international community's insufficient response. Despite calls for justice and support, Rezayee remains disillusioned with the lack of accountability and aid.

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Humanitarian Crisis Afghanistan Crisis Taliban Takeover

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Working in print, radio, TV and online as author, reporter, researcher, translator and fixer in Germany and Ex-Yugoslavia. Currently a freelancer for numerous German and Balkan media.

Afghan asylum seekers in Germany face deportation

01 Apr 2023  |  Al Jazeera  |  English  |  Refugee Crisis

The article discusses the plight of Afghan asylum seekers in Germany, focusing on the stories of Zabihullah Karimi and Naser Hashemi, who are facing deportation back to Afghanistan despite the life-threatening conditions there. Germany has tightened its asylum regulations and is expediting deportations, with plans to return 11,900 Afghans. The article highlights the record high civilian casualties in Afghanistan and the criticism from human rights groups and political parties like Die Linke against the German government's policies. It also touches on the EU's Dublin rules and the conditions of refugees in Greece, with advocacy by PRO ASYL for better treatment of refugees.

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Afghanistan Conflict Refugee Crisis Asylum Policy Deportation

Julia Montfort is a journalist based in Paris, France.

My Farewell to Journalism in Kabul

30 Apr 2024  |  Guiti News  |  French  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Halima Karimi, a 25-year-old journalist, recounts her last day of work in Kabul amidst the Taliban takeover. She describes the shock of her media company's president fleeing to London, the editorial chief warning female staff to go home, and her emotional walk home, realizing her professional life was over. Karimi reflects on her mother's similar experience 20 years prior and her own work on domestic violence and investigative reports on Taliban corruption. Forced to leave Afghanistan for her safety, she details her difficult solo journey to France, leaving her family behind, and the ongoing struggles of Afghan women.

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Afghanistan Crisis Journalism Taliban Takeover Women's Rights

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Thomas Mutch is a journalist based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Suhail Ahmad: Baby lost in Kabul chaos reunited with family

18 Dec 2021  |  www.thetimes.co.uk  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Suhail Ahmad, a baby lost during the chaotic evacuation of Kabul, has been reunited with his family in Texas. The baby was found by Hamid Hammedullah, a Kabul taxi driver, who cared for him and eventually helped locate his family through a passenger from the same community. The child narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt before being identified by his grandfather. The family is now awaiting US government assistance to transport the child to America.

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Afghanistan Crisis Evacuation Family Reunification

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Shershah Nawabi is a journalist based in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Mainly I have reported for Afghan local TV’s and also worked as a guide with Indian and German journalists. I am able to do TV live- Phone calls with several TV and radio stations abroad. 
I am an Afghan citizen and working with Afghan ...

US freeze on Afghan assets main cause of economic crisis, says Finance Ministry

09 Dec 2021  |  Arab News  |  English  |  Afghanistan Economic Crisis

Afghanistan's economic crisis has worsened due to the US freeze on Afghan central bank assets, according to the country's Finance Ministry. The crisis escalated after the Taliban's takeover and the subsequent withdrawal of US-led foreign troops, which led to the suspension of international assistance and the freezing of $9.5 billion in assets. This has left the Afghan economy in a state of paralysis, with over half the population facing severe food insecurity. The Finance Ministry's spokesperson, Ahmad Wali Haqmal, stated that unfreezing the assets would resolve the crisis and criticized the freeze as lacking legal justification. Despite the lack of recognition for the Taliban interim government, there is hope for progress in negotiations with US officials after recent discussions in Doha. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with a significant increase in Afghans facing food shortages compared to the previous year, exacerbated by the country's worst drought in decades.

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Afghanistan Economic Crisis US-Afghanistan Relations Humanitarian Aid International Sanctions

Broadcast journalist and Photographer

Sohrab Omar is a freelance journalist from Afghanistan. He has more than five years’ experience working as a journalist, reporter and photographer for various media outlets. 
He has worked as a correspondent for TRT (Turkish Radio & Television corporation) ...

Muktadir Rashid is a journalist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Afghan women tell us how their lives have changed

06 Mar 2023  |  The Fuller Project  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Afghan women have faced severe restrictions, including bans on work, education, and NGO employment. The Fuller Project shared the stories of three Afghan women who have experienced job loss, violence, and the shattering of their educational aspirations. Sara, a former NGO worker in Kabul, struggles to survive financially. Raha, a student from Badakhshan, faced violence during a protest against university entry restrictions. Mahtab, a student from Kandahar, was denied her diploma and witnessed a stark contrast in treatment between male and female students. These accounts highlight the ongoing resistance and dire circumstances of Afghan women under Taliban rule.

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Afghanistan Crisis Women's Rights Taliban Rule

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Sertan Sanderson is a seasoned journalist with a rich background in covering news and current affairs. Specialising in social change, migration, and cultural impacts, his work is characterised by a deep exploration of the intersection of politics and human rights. 

His reporting has taken him ...

Germany takes in highest number of Afghan refugees in EU, as Taliban 'celebrate' return

30 Jun 2023  |  www.infomigrants.net  |  English  |  Refugee Crisis

Since the Taliban's takeover in Kabul two years ago, over 30,300 Afghans have been admitted to Germany through evacuation flights and admission programs. BAMF reported that this includes over 4,100 former local Afghan forces and their families, totaling 19,300 people, and another 2,600 individuals affected by the Taliban regime, with their families making up another 11,000 admissions. Germany has the highest number of vulnerable Afghan nationals admitted in the EU. The Afghan population in Germany has risen to around 395,655 as of June 2023, with Afghans now the largest demographic seeking protection in the country. The article also reflects on the fall of Kabul, the cost of the war in Afghanistan, and the current situation for Afghans both inside and outside the country.

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Afghanistan Conflict Refugee Crisis

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Amie Williams is a video and print journalist based in Athens, Greece. She has over twenty years of experience, freelancing for such outlets as Al Jazeera, PBS, CBC, Huffington Post, TruthDig, KPFK Radio, Free Speech TV, SABC and Kenya Nation TV. She has also produced and directed 6 award-winning ...

MY BODY IS HERE, BUT MY SOUL IS STILL IN AFGHANISTAN: Portrait of an Afghan Woman Leader

01 Sept 2022  |  Women's eNews  |  English  |  Afghanistan Crisis

Hamida Ahmadzai, a former Afghan Member of Parliament, continues her fight for women's rights from exile in Canada after escaping the Taliban regime. Despite the progress made in women's political representation in Afghanistan, the Taliban's takeover has reversed much of it. Hamida, along with other Afghan women leaders, is working to build an international coalition to pressure governments to consider human rights in their dealings with the Taliban. The article highlights the struggles and resilience of Afghan women leaders in exile and their ongoing efforts to support their people and restore women's rights in Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan Crisis Women's Rights Taliban Regime

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