Taliban Accused of Manipulating Humanitarian Aid Distribution in Afghanistan

Taliban Accused of Manipulating Humanitarian Aid Distribution in Afghanistan
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The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) released a report alleging that the Taliban, in cooperation with some United Nations officials, is involved in extorting funds from aid projects. According to the report, UN officials reportedly receive bribes from organizations awarded aid contracts and share these with the Taliban.

SIGAR estimates that only 30 to 40 percent of humanitarian aid reaches the intended recipients, with the Taliban using force to direct aid primarily to Pashtun-majority areas. The report also highlights ethnic bias in aid distribution, favoring regions dominated by Pashtuns.

Eyewitness accounts included in the report reveal that a relief worker was killed after exposing Taliban theft of food aid. Additionally, the Taliban allegedly interferes in NGO recruitment and places its affiliates on payrolls without requiring work. While the Taliban denies these allegations, SIGAR states that extensive evidence supports claims of systematic violations related to aid misappropriation and manipulation in Afghanistan.