ICRC to directly pay Afghan health workers’ salaries

KABUL (Pajhwok): The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will pay salaries of health workers in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and without interference from the government.

ICRC head Peter Maurer said they had reached an understanding with MoPH on directly paying healthcare personnel their cash salaries.

“We have also agreed with aid agencies that ICRC being an independent institution will pay salaries of health officials.

“We should not forget that many low-ranking officials in health and water supply sectors are old people and there has been change only in the top brass of the government.”

Earlier, the Geneva-based ICRC head had told a media outlet: “The problem in Afghanistan is not hunger; it is the lack of cash and non-payment of cash privileges for employees for their social services.”

He said Afghanistan’s economy was totally dependent on foreign aid and after the fall of the previous regime and withdrawal of foreign forces, the country had been in problems.

He added the ICRC budget would surge from $95 million to $163 million till mid-2022. He pledged continued support to Afghanistan.

nh/mud

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