Kabul: ARCS Vice President and British Red Cross Official Discuss Expanding Cooperation

Monday, June 22, 2026

Hafiz Azizur Rahman, Vice President of the ARCS, met with Mr. Jeremy Smith, the British Red Cross Country Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan, at his office to discuss ways to expand and strengthen joint humanitarian cooperation.

During the meeting, Mr. Hafiz Azizur Rahman expressed appreciation for the British Red Cross’s continued humanitarian support with the ARCS. He stated that the ARCS, through its Marastoons, has provided safe accommodation, hot meals, and vocational training opportunities for up to three years for women without guardians and children.

He added that cash assistance, food supplies, and vocational training are being provided to women without guardians and children who live outside the Marastoons to help meet their basic needs. He called for increased support from the British Red Cross to strengthen and expand the services of the Marastoons.  

Mr. Jeremy Smith commended the humanitarian efforts of the ARCS and stated that they regularly observe the organization’s humanitarian services. 

He particularly highlighted the ARCS’s timely, effective, and essential assistance to the earthquake-affected people of Kunar as one of the organization’s most important and successful achievements and praised the Society’s swift and effective response during emergencies.

Mr. Smith added that the British Red Cross would continue its support for the ARCS in the areas of Marastoons, treatment of patients with congenital heart defects, provision of necessary assistance during emergencies, and humanitarian diplomacy.

He also referred to the provision of training programs aimed at helping women without guardians establish small businesses, describing such initiatives as important for promoting their self-reliance.

He pledged that, under the five-year agreement between the ARCS and the British Red Cross, they would continue and further expand their humanitarian cooperation for the organization.