In recent years, Afghan citizens, particularly those in Balkh Province, have faced significant challenges such as war, poverty, and drought. However, the Taliban’s interference and their lack of collaboration with organizations seeking assistance have exacerbated these issues and further constrained the affected population. Several reports in recent weeks have highlighted the Taliban’s involvement in the distribution of humanitarian aid, often impeding the process by insisting on reviewing or approving the list of organizations involved. As a result, assisting organizations have been disappointed, leading to a reduction in aid that has impacted various provinces, including Balkh.
Abdul Habib (pseudonym), an employee of a local organization collaborating with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan, spoke to Hasht-e Subh Daily and expressed that their activities have decreased compared to the previous year. According to Abdul Habib, they have distributed food supplies to a significant number of people in various districts of Balkh province in the past. However, this year has seen a significant decline in distribution activities compared to the previous year, with a reduction of up to 50%. Last year, they were actively engaged with weekly distributions, but this year they only conduct one distribution per month, specifically in districts like Zari and Kishindih, which are facing severe needs.
Abdul Habib highlights the Taliban’s interference as a key factor in the decrease of aid distribution to vulnerable citizens by the United Nations. He reveals that the Taliban exert considerable effort to ensure that a significant portion of the aid reaches their own families. According to him, during aid distribution programs, they often encounter an extensive list of Taliban members, including their relatives and families, at the forefront. Due to the risks involved, they are unable to voice any objections. Abdul Habib personally witnessed cash assistance being provided to individuals in a district, only to see the Taliban, in collaboration with village elders, demand 2,500 Afghanis from each recipient, claiming it as the cost of their inclusion on the list.
Reportedly, religious leaders and a few influential individuals in the villages initially prepare the list of those in need. Exploiting this opportunity, Taliban members collaborate with village elders to submit their own list to the religious leaders for approval. This situation has caused disappointment among relief organizations. Gholam Mohammad, a resident of Balkh province’s Sholgara district, asserts that the aid, ostensibly meant for the poor, ultimately falls into the hands of the Taliban. He adds, “In our villages, wheat has been distributed twice. Very little has reached the needy, while the majority ends up with the Taliban’s relatives and the families of their deceased members who were killed in the conflicts. Only the name of aid remains for the destitute.”
The Taliban’s intervention in Afghanistan has reached a critical juncture, leading to the announcement of aid suspension by Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State, during a press conference. Miller cited the report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which exposed the misappropriation of aid by the Taliban and the failure to reach the intended recipients in the country. Over the past two years, the US has contributed more than eight billion dollars in aid to Afghanistan, as per Miller’s statement.
Some argue that the Taliban’s interference in aid distribution has the most significant impact on impoverished individuals. Shahabuddin Shabrang (pseudonym), a university professor in Balkh province, attributes the rise in poverty and unemployment in the country to recurrent droughts and the loss of jobs experienced by thousands of citizens who were relieved of their duties following the collapse of the previous government. According to Shabrang, the majority of unemployed individuals come from the underprivileged sector, previously employed in the army, police, government institutions, and organizations. The university professor further asserts, “Addressing this social predicament and managing the humanitarian crisis surpasses the capacity of the ruling group and the meager aid provisions from the United Nations. Temporary assistance, such as a sack of flour and wheat, not only proves ineffective but also exacerbates hypocrisy and animosity among rural communities. This is due to the significant number of people in need and the scarcity of food supplies, which often leads to conflicts and competitions over aid among residents of neighboring villages.”
The residents of Balkh province find themselves in this predicament as the level of aid, as per United Nations statistics, has decreased since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. The organization reports that around 20 million people in Afghanistan are currently experiencing a shortage of food supplies. Meanwhile, the United Nations has called upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to reopen the Chabahar trade route, aiming to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian aid, particularly 20,000 tons of wheat, via cargo ships from India to reach the Afghan people.
