Many residents of Herat Province claim that the Taliban have repeatedly received humanitarian aid for themselves and their affiliates. According to their accounts, the Taliban have taken back these aids from the people after distribution. These residents emphasize that the share of the poor and hungry from humanitarian aid is “none” and most of this aid is distributed to landlords, district council heads, Taliban members, and individuals affiliated with this group.
Some residents of Herat state that relief organizations, while assessing and identifying the needy, coordinate with the Taliban and under the guidance of landlords and district representatives, distribute aid without identifying the real needy, allocating the aid to the Taliban and their relatives instead.
Munir Ahmad, a resident of Bekhrabad district in Herat province, says that he lives in a rented house and has also faced economic problems after the deadly earthquakes. He claims that after the recent earthquakes in Herat, a district representative told him that needy houses would be surveyed by relief organizations and humanitarian aid would be distributed to them. However, this Herat resident adds that the organizations, guided by the district representatives, started the survey, and instead of identifying the needy and tenants, they recognized the house owners as needy. He sees this action as the peak of corruption in relief agencies and Taliban intervention. Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, Munir Ahmad says: “I was doing construction work, but when the earthquakes happened, our work stopped. I rent out houses for four thousand Afghanis a month, now there is no work. The district representative of the area announced in the mosque that relief organizations would survey the needy. A few days passed, and a few people said they agreed with the survey, and they came and surveyed our houses, but they did not recognize me as eligible, while the house owner who receives rent from us has been recognized as eligible, which is unfair and unjust.”
Many residents claim that most organizations distribute humanitarian aid in this manner, and the needy in most areas are excluded from the list of aid recipients. According to them, whoever is listed by the Taliban and district representatives with organizations receives the aid, while the hungry are neglected.
At the same time, some residents of Herat claim that Taliban commanders and fighters have moved their residences to the city center and have allocated aid for themselves and their dependents.
Ahmad Sohail (pseudonym), a resident of the sixth district of Herat province, says that the share of aid from the residents of their areas has been allocated to the Taliban, their affiliates, and the district representatives, depriving the needy of receiving humanitarian aid. This Herat resident adds: “After Herat fell to the Taliban, they brought their homes to the city, and now if aid comes, they divide it between themselves and the district representatives, and they are included in the list. In four months, aid has come twice, but not a single piece of it has been distributed to the poor. Mr. Sohail says: “Twice, aid arrived in our area, and all Taliban members, their tribes, local agents, associates, and relatives were prioritized and received assistance. In other words, if you ask the locals, not a single piece of aid reached a poor and needy individual on both occasions. When organizations arrive, district representatives guide them, with the Taliban backing them, and everyone collaborates closely. Fear prevents anyone from speaking out.”
Residents of Herat are voicing concerns regarding the allocation of humanitarian aid to the Taliban and district representatives. Meanwhile, residents of Ghor, Farah, and Badghis provinces have previously criticized the unfair distribution of aid, alleging that the Taliban prioritize themselves, their tribes, and relatives.
Last year, relief organizations in Ghor province suspended their activities several times due to Taliban interference and the confiscation of humanitarian aid from the people.
Relief agencies in Ghor province have repeatedly reported that Taliban commanders in the districts and the provincial capital confiscated their aid, including cash and food supplies. They claimed they were allocated it for constructing the Herat-Ghor highway and secondary roads in the province’s districts. However, after a year has passed, no highways or secondary roads have been constructed yet.