Is the ruling Taliban abusing Humanitarian aid?

New Delhi: Afghanistan is receiving billions of dollars as humanitarian aid from across the globe. Is it being distributed to the needy at the grassroots level? No one is sure about the distribution system as complaints continue to pour in about locals suffering from displacement, malnourishment and hunger.

Amrullah Saleh, acting President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Resistance, in his tweet, said, "On Jan 3rd and 4th, the Talibs are going to receive U.S. $ 80,000,00 consolidation funds in the name of humanitarian aid. It is less than a week after women were erased from all types of work and education."

On Jan 3rd & 4th the Talibs are going to recieve eighty (80,000,000) US$ consolidation funds in the name of humanitarian aid.ThIs is just less thn a week after women were erased from all types of work & education. Cash will be flown by flight number HYA7011. HYPROCRTICAL CONDUCT

— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) January 1, 2023

Millions of dollars are flown into Kabul every week in the name of Humanitarian aid by the United States and the United Nations, and other international organizations for distribution across the country as humanitarian catastrophe grips tighter in winter months.

In its article, Foreign Policy magazine quoted sources inside and outside the country that "much of the money never reaches those who need it."

Instead, they say, "unknown quantities are stolen by the Taliban and diverted to their causes, keeping supporters onside with handouts of cash and food and funding the private operations of senior leaders.

Foreign Policy further says that the authorities are misusing foreign aid. "Some sources in the security and charity sectors say the Taliban use the informal hawala money transfer system to benefit from a global shortage of dollars."

The accusations are fuelling concerns that the Taliban, who for decades have controlled global heroin production and supply, are still engaged in organized crime.

"The cash deliveries are deposited in the central bank, controlled by the Taliban, and the privately owned Afghanistan International Bank, where U.N. agencies hold accounts. There is no accountability for where any of the money ultimately ends up," added the Foreign Policy Magazine.

The United States is providing nearly $327 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help the people of Afghanistan. This funding includes almost $119 million through the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and nearly $208 million through the U.S.

Agency for International Development's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, bringing the total U.S. humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries to more than $1.1 billion since the Taliban takeover one year ago in August 2021.

This assistance from the United States will continue to support the scaled-up humanitarian response in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries through international humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations Population Fund, International Organization for Migration, and other regional implementing partners.

According to the U.N., about 70 per cent of their programs are implemented in collaboration with NGOs, and international or local agencies, which they use to bring resources and essential services to the region.

Afghanistan's interim government announced a complete ban on women employees working for private and international non-government organizations effective from December 24.

Most international organizations and NGOs face flak from the ruling Taliban government. The Taliban has banned women from working in the NGO sector and deprived women of higher education, who were massively involved in the humanitarian aid sector.

At this point, relief agencies are still assessing the impact of the Taliban's latest decision but have already been forced to suspend some urgent programs due to a lack of female staff."

Humanitarian workers say that more than 50 per cent of the Humanitarian aid work is being conducted by women, who go to the houses to meet women, who usually run the homes and meet their children too.

The move prompted massive condemnations on national and international levels, calling on the ruling regime to reverse the decision and allow women to return to work with humanitarian aid agencies.

Furthermore, the de facto authorities had also banned women from attending universities nationwide, accompanied by global condemnations.

Amid the dire economic and humanitarian crisis, the recent decisions by the Taliban authorities have further complicated the living conditions for ordinary people. The temporary suspension of humanitarian aid programs by some NGOs across the country jeopardizes the lives of millions of Afghans.

The head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), Martin Griffiths, will soon travel to Afghanistan to meet with the Taliban government to discuss the veto of women in non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

"The U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator will undertake a visit to Afghanistan where he will seek to meet with the highest officials to resolve the situation," U.N. Resident Coordinator in Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov said during a press conference at the New York headquarters.

Meanwhile, in its yearend message, the United Nations said that its humanitarian partners are committed to delivering life-saving services to the people of Afghanistan despite the Taliban-run administration's decision to ban women from working in humanitarian non-governmental organizations.

The resolve was expressed by the U.N. envoy for Afghanistan, Ramiz Alakbarov, while talking to reporters at the U.N. Headquarters in New York last week. However, he said, "it is impossible to deliver a comprehensive humanitarian action without the participation of women."

Earlier, the United Nations and NGO chiefs requested the interim Afghan government to allow women to work as teachers, nutrition experts, team leaders, community health workers, vaccinators, nurses, doctors, and heads of organizations.

Even though the humanitarian situation in the country is a challenge, people are not getting proper food or jobs, and economically the country is suffering.

"We see more and more Afghans who are having to sell their belongings to make ends meet, and where they have to buy materials for heating and at the same time have to face increasing costs for food and other essential items," said Martin Schuepp, director of operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross.

A report by World Bank estimated that the real GDP is projected to contract with an accumulated contraction of around 25 per cent this year.

Natural disasters like floods in 2022 and the earthquake in Giyan district, where thousands of homes were destroyed, have further brought misery and heavy financial losses to the people of Afghanistan.