The Taliban have imposed extensive restrictions on various domestic and foreign organizations in the country. After banning the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA), the Ministry of Public Health has halted the health-related activities of the French organization Premiere Urgence – Aide Medicale Internationale (PU-AMI). The ministry has instructed relevant authorities to completely cease the organization’s health operations, without providing specific reasons for the prohibition. Furthermore, the Taliban have ordered a foreign healthcare organization in Zabul province to halt its operations. Previously, at least 15 aid organizations had suspended their activities in Daikundi province due to the Taliban’s extortion demands. All foreign organizations are now mandated to cease their educational projects entirely and surrender their equipment to the Taliban. Sources within a foreign organization informed Hasht-e Subh Daily that certain Taliban officials have demanded the transfer of specific “projects” to the Taliban’s designated organization. However, citizens perceive the suspension of foreign organizations’ activities as a tragic event and emphasize that the Taliban should refrain from extorting organizations and demanding projects, as it puts people at risk and leads to a humanitarian crisis.
The Taliban’s actions have led to the prohibition of the activities of the French organization Premiere Urgence – Aide Medicale Internationale (PU-AMI) involved in healthcare services. The Ministry of Public Health has issued a letter to the provincial authorities, instructing them to completely cease the healthcare services provided by this organization. The letter, circulating on media and social platforms, states: “The organization Premiere Urgence – Aide Medicale Internationale (PU-AMI), which provides healthcare services in the country’s provinces, must fully suspend its healthcare services.” However, the letter does not specify the reason for halting the organization’s activities.
The French organization Premiere Urgence – Aide Medicale Internationale (PU-AMI) aids civilians impacted by natural disasters, war, and economic collapse. Their assistance encompasses primary care access, mobile clinics to reach remote areas, and providing psychological support to patients in Afghanistan. Vital programs of this organization include emergency aid in health, nutrition, mental health, water, hygiene, and sanitation. Operating in 22 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, they have been involved in Afghanistan’s health sector since 1979. They emphasize that Afghanistan faces one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises, further exacerbated by the Taliban’s return, posing a serious threat to the country’s healthcare system.
The reason behind the Taliban’s halt on the organization’s activities, which has been operating in Afghanistan for over 40 years, remains unclear. However, sources within foreign organizations assert that the Taliban exert pressure on international organizations to transfer their projects to entities and individuals associated with the group. These sources claim that certain Taliban officials have requested foreign organizations to assign projects to their favored local organizations. Due to security concerns, these sources refrain from disclosing the specific organizations supported by the Taliban and providing further details.
In the meantime, the Taliban have banned the foreign aid organization InterSos (HAO) from operating in Zabul province because the organization refused to employ individuals preferred by the Taliban. Sources indicate that the Taliban stopped the operations of this health-focused organization on Saturday, July 15. This marks the second time the organization’s activities have been halted in Zabul province after its officials declined to hire Taliban-affiliated personnel. While the organization’s authorities are determined to continue their work in the province, some sources within the organization claim that all operations have been suspended except for its office.
Sources disclose that certain Taliban officials have urged foreign organizations to transfer their projects to designated entities identified by the group. This request follows the suspension of activities by at least 15 organizations in Daikundi province due to the Taliban’s extortion of aid organizations. According to the sources, these organizations halted their operations in Daikundi province when Mullah Mohammadullah Iqbal, the Taliban’s economic leader in the province, and Ameenullah Obeid’s nephew, interfered with the aid organizations’ activities through their subordinates.
Ban on Activities of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) by the Taliban
Apart from extorting and pressuring aid organizations to comply with their demands, the Taliban have also applied pressure on foreign organizations in their foreign policy. After an Iraqi-Swedish citizen burned the Quran, the Taliban suspended all humanitarian activities of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA). According to the Taliban, the committee will only be permitted to resume its operations in Afghanistan after an apology from the Swedish government to Muslims worldwide. However, the committee has asserted that it is engaged in dialogue with the Taliban to resume its activities in Afghanistan.
The Taliban have halted the activities of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) in the country. This organization has been operating there for about four decades, aiming to assist the people of Afghanistan in living a dignified life, free from poverty, violence, and discrimination. The SCA’s mission emphasizes a vision of Afghanistan without poverty, violence, and discrimination, where human rights are respected, and everyone lives with dignity, benefiting from equal opportunities and social justice. In their latest update, the SCA announced providing healthcare assistance to 2.5 million people in the health sector alone last year, benefiting 133,000 children in education and over 10,000 disabled individuals.
Furthermore, the committee reported that around 87,000 students attend its schools across the country, and it annually delivers healthcare services to over two million people. The committee has also stressed its commitment to supporting the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities and promoting rural development. Key activities of the committee encompass children’s education, midwife training, and the provision of prosthetic limbs to individuals with disabilities. According to the organization’s website, it has a workforce of over six thousand employees and operates in 14 provinces of Afghanistan.
At the same time, the Taliban’s actions have drawn strong criticism from several citizens in the country regarding the group’s interference in providing humanitarian assistance and the operations of aid organizations. These citizens argue that the Taliban is unable to offer services themselves and fails to create an enabling environment for the unrestricted activities of foreign and domestic organizations. They firmly assert that the presence of these organizations is vital in addressing the needs and challenges faced by the people, especially in education, healthcare, and development projects. Without their continued presence, a profound human tragedy looms over the people.
A Kabul resident, using the pseudonym Mohammad Khairandish, asserts that the Taliban deem anything in their favor as permissible, while anything against their interests is branded as spying and forbidden, leading to extortion. According to him, these organizations reach deserving individuals even in the remotest parts of Afghanistan, and the actions of one Swedish individual should not be generalized to the entire country. Another citizen describes the prohibition of healthcare activities in the country as a “disaster” and emphasizes the importance of allowing these organizations’ independent activities to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s access to humanitarian aid has raised concerns, leading to the suspension of some organizations’ activities in Ghor province for several months. Previously, John Sopko, the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), informed the United States Congress about the potential embezzlement of humanitarian aid by the Taliban. He stated that the U.S. government does not provide financial assistance to the Taliban, and he cannot guarantee the US government that the funds will not fall into the hands of the Taliban. Sopko highlighted that the Taliban diverts financial aid meant for the people to serve their own interests. The U.S. Department of State spokesperson has also acknowledged the Taliban’s interference with humanitarian aid, resulting in the suspension of humanitarian activities in Ghor, Ghazni, and Oruzgan provinces.
