Taliban manipulate U.S.-funded humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, new report says

A new report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) warns that the Taliban have increasingly manipulated and restricted U.S.-funded humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, putting billions of dollars at risk of misuse, Afghan news outlet Amu reported.

Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have pressured aid organizations to distribute assistance through their channels or limit it to select populations, according to the report.

Cases of interference include the suspension of food distribution by the World Food Program (WFP) in Ghazni province in May 2023, restrictions preventing direct aid to women, and the blocking of ration cards for certain recipients.

Some organizations have resisted Taliban demands. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), for example, refused to provide medical supplies to Taliban officials. However, many aid groups face operational challenges due to Taliban-imposed restrictions.

Despite these issues, U.S. oversight of aid distribution remains inconsistent. The report highlights that the State Department and USAID do not uniformly require Public International Organizations (PIOs) to report Taliban interference, limiting the ability to track aid diversion effectively.

Since 2021, the U.S. has provided over $3 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, primarily through international organizations. However, SIGAR found gaps in oversight, with some USAID agreements failing to mandate reporting of interference. The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) also did not adequately reassess aid program risks following the Taliban takeover.

SIGAR recommends stronger monitoring mechanisms, including mandatory reporting of Taliban interference, third-party audits, and a standardized risk assessment system, warning that without these reforms, U.S. humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan could be severely compromised.