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Kabul: The World Bank announced more than $1 billion in humanitarian help for Afghanistan on Tuesday, declaring that the funds will be distributed to UN agencies and foreign non-governmental organisations while staying “beyond the jurisdiction” of the country’s Taliban rulers.
The reallocation of cash from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) follows the disbursement of $280 million in ARTF funds last December, and is intended to bolster the humanitarian response during the critical winter months.
According to a statement issued by the Washington-based lender, the funds will be distributed as grants to “support the delivery of essential basic services, protect vulnerable Afghans, help preserve human capital and key economic and social services, and reduce the need for future humanitarian assistance.”
After the hardline Islamist Taliban took back Afghanistan power in late August, the bank halted its aid to Kabul.
ARTF is a multi-donor fund that coordinates international help to enhance the lives of millions of Afghans. It is managed by the World Bank on behalf of its donor partners.
Until the Taliban took over, the ARTF was Afghanistan’s most important source of development finance, accounting for up to 30% of the government’s budget.
Because the World Bank is unable to deliver cash directly to the Taliban rule, which is not recognised by the international community, the monies have been transferred to organisations such as UNICEF in response to the humanitarian catastrophe.
Since the Taliban took over, the Afghan people have endured food shortages and increasing poverty.
The World Bank stated that the extra funding will “protect vulnerable Afghans (and) assist in the preservation of human capital and essential economic and social services.”
