This year, the World Bank will spend $280 million (247 million euros) on medical aid in Afghanistan. Donating countries agreed on Friday to release the amount from a fund that had been frozen since the Taliban took power, Reuters news agency reported. In Afghanistan, according to the UN, around 23 million people currently have a hard time getting enough food.
The money will be transferred from the World Bank to the World Food Program ($180 million) and UNICEF ($100 million). Passing the payment through these organizations should prevent the Taliban from using it for any purpose other than medical aid. The World Bank reports that employees are in Afghanistan to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the Afghans directly.
Afghanistan has been in economic decline since the Taliban took power in August. The number of people in famine has risen rapidly in a short period of time. More than half of the 39 million inhabitants have little access to food. The World Bank calls the decision to release funds now “the first step” to resume humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.
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