Taliban Denies Interference in Humanitarian Aid Distribution
The Taliban administration has denied accusations that it interferes in the distribution of humanitarian aid, even as a sharp decline in foreign assistance has limited the ability of aid agencies to meet the needs of people in Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban administration, said at a “Administration in the Mirror of the Press” meeting that international aid is managed and spent directly by relief organizations in Afghanistan and that, according to him, “not a single afghani” of this assistance has reached the Taliban administration.
His remarks come as some relief agencies and organizations have accused the Taliban administration of interfering in the distribution of humanitarian aid and directing it.
Mujahid also confirmed that global aid to institutions operating in Afghanistan has declined and that these organizations are facing budget shortages. He called on the international community to increase its support for these institutions.
The Taliban administration spokesman also described aid to internally displaced people and returning refugees as “minimal” and called for it to be increased.
He further claimed that the Taliban administration has not created any obstacle to the work of international organizations, but at the same time warned that if these institutions do not, in his words, follow the principles of transparency and delivering aid to those in need, they will face punitive measures.
Afghanistan has in recent years experienced one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises, with millions of people across the country remaining dependent on foreign aid. Aid agencies have repeatedly cited reduced funding as a factor limiting services in vulnerable areas.
