KABUL (SW) – With the new grant of $ 266M, the USAID in Afghanistan has expressed preparedness to continue with the enduring partnership with the country.
Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, Karen L. Freeman, acting assistant administrator for the USAID in Afghanistan, said the agency would aim to address with this grant the situation arising from drought, displacement as well as COVID-19 among others.
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“We’ll continue to support (Afghanistan) with particular emphasis on ensuring that we look at basic service delivery, food security and support to women. We recognize the country is also entering a drought situation, so our humanitarian programs would make sure to address those very critical needs at this time”, she said.
The acting assistant administrator for the USAID in Afghanistan also underlined efforts to ensure transparency in regard to utilization of the funds through on-budget as well as through civil society organizations.
USAID Mission Director Dr. Tina Dooley-Jones said the USAID would also support Afghanistan in regard to availability of the vaccines, oxygen producing plants and ventilators. “We are committed to provide 4 oxygen plants to Afghanistan”, she said.
Last year, the USAID provided 100 ventilators to the health system in Afghansitan to help thousands of COVID-19 patients.
According to the US officials, Washington has been stepping up its engagement in Afghanistan, including humanitarian assistance, support for the free press, lifesaving protection, shelter, livelihoods opportunities, essential health care, food aid, water and other supplies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the $ 266M worth of humanitarian aid by the US for Afghanistan in the backdrop of the withdrawal of international troops. It said in a statement that the Afghan government remained committed to use these funds to save lives, provide shelter and livelihoods, and health care, and providing water and food to those in need.
Earlier on Friday, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced more than $266 million worth of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
The assistance will provide support to “some of the estimated 18 million people in need in Afghanistan, including more than 4.8 million Afghans internally displaced,” Blinken said in a statement.
“This year alone, more than 115,000 persons have been displaced by conflict inside Afghanistan, and nearly 500,000 have returned to Afghanistan in need of assistance,” said the secretary. “This funding will allow our partners to provide lifesaving protection, shelter, livelihoods opportunities, essential health care, emergency food aid, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to respond to the needs generated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
It will also meet the needs of “the most vulnerable” Afghans, including women and girls facing particular risks such as gender-based violence as a result of the pandemic and decades of conflict.
With this assistance, US humanitarian aid for Afghanistan reached nearly $3.9 billion since 2002, according to the statement. He reiterated Washington’s call to Afghan leaders and the Taliban to accelerate progress toward a negotiated political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to bring an end to over 40 years of conflict.
ENDS
