The United States last week authorized the Taliban to continue providing humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, authorizing them and US contractors. A spokesman for the finance ministry told Reuters.
Despite US sanctions against the Taliban, the Treasury Department on Wednesday granted specific permission to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghans, including the distribution of food and medicine. These sanctions freeze all Taliban US assets and prevent Americans from doing business with them, including the provision of finance, goods or services. Those restrictions are in effect, a spokesman said.
The permit expires on March 1, 2022 and stems from concerns that Washington’s sanctions against the Taliban could accelerate the humanitarian crisis in the country. “This is a humanitarian aid aimed at helping the people of Afghanistan,” the official said, adding that the aid would not go to Taliban officials.
UN: 18 million Afghans need help
According to the United Nations, more than 18 million Afghans, half of the population, need help. Half of all Afghan children under the age of five are severely malnourished, both countries as a result of war and two droughts over the past four years.
While U.S. sanctions often include humanitarian concessions, critics say tough U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela could prevent humanitarian groups from working in a country for fear of coming into conflict with Washington.
The Taliban encouraged aid agencies to continue their work unless aid was used to exert political influence over Afghanistan.
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