Some aid activities suspended due to IEA interferences: US

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United States through USAID, World Bank UN, NGOs and other implementing partners and likeminded governments continued to provide humanitarian and basic needs assistance to the people of Afghanistan, according to a US government official on Thursday.

Addressing reporters, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US did not provide funding to the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ (IEA).

“The State Department and USAID continue to work with the World Bank, with the UN, with NGOs, and other implementing partners and likeminded governments to provide humanitarian and basic needs assistance to the people of Afghanistan, not to the Taliban,” he said.

“We have robust monitoring and reporting requirements from NGOs that implement any programs, including in unstable and unfriendly environments. And I would say we have – there are several examples in which we have suspended operations where we suspected Taliban interference with the humanitarian efforts,” he said.

Miller added US suspended operations in Ghor Province following evidence of continued attempts by the IEA personnel to prevent – to divert assistance.

The World Food Program has halted distributions in two districts of Ghazni Province from January to April, when local officials attempted to interfere in distribution.

In April, another US Government partner suspended activities in Uruzgan Province after the IEA issued demands to provide transportation support to Taliban representatives and otherwise interfered in staff recruitment processes.