Afghanistan Received $6.7 Billion in Humanitarian Aid Over 3 Years: OCHA
Last Updated on November 8, 2024 5:23 am
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan has reported that Afghanistan has received $6.7 billion in humanitarian aid over the past three years.
The OCHA report also said that aid was provided to 12 million people in Afghanistan in the first six months of this year.
According to OCHA data, the peak of aid to Afghanistan was in 2022, amounting to approximately $3.3 billion, while in 2023, the number of people in need reached 29.2 million.
The organization has warned that a reduction in aid to Afghanistan could endanger progress and lead to increased food insecurity and poverty.
The report said: ” Afghanistan has received approximately US$6.7 billion in humanitarian funding since the Taliban takeover on 15 August 2021, with resources peaking at nearly $3.3 billion in 2022.
This support coincided with record-high humanitarian needs following the transition – reaching an unprecedented 29.2 million in 2023.”
Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews: “The aid provided by the United Nations and its related agencies is handed over directly to organizations, which then distribute it. The Afghan government does not intervene in this aid. Distribution is conducted independently through international organizations.”
At the same time, some residents of Kabul say they are in greater need of humanitarian assistance as winter approaches.
Khan Zada, a Kabul resident, said: “There is no work. I come here sometimes earning 50 afghani, sometimes 40 afghani, and sometimes nothing at all, then go home.”
Mohammad Shafi, another Kabul resident, said: “I live in a rental house. This cart is my livelihood. God is the provider, and this cart is my second source. I have seven family members to feed, and I make 150, 160, or 170 afghani a day.”
The Ministry of Economy also considers the continuation of aid crucial to improving the economic situation of families in the current conditions, but it emphasizes that aid should focus more on creating employment opportunities for citizens.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, told TOLOnews: “Humanitarian aid and support from the international community are essential for the people of Afghanistan. We thank all the donor organizations. Our request is that aid be directed toward developmental and infrastructure projects to structurally eliminate poverty.”
Previously, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) expressed concern over the economic crisis in 22 countries, including Afghanistan, in a joint report.