The United Nations has acknowledged that the Taliban interfere in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, responding to a report by the SIGAR that accused the group of diverting international assistance for its own benefit.
In a statement on Thursday, the UN said it takes the allegations “extremely seriously” and has implemented strict safeguards to protect aid deliveries.
SIGAR’s report, released Wednesday, alleged that Taliban officials have used force to seize aid and redirect it to serve their own interests. The watchdog estimated that only 30 to 40 per cent of aid sent to Afghanistan reaches the people most in need.
The report also claimed that the Taliban, in collusion with some UN officials, extort humanitarian projects. According to SIGAR, UN officials have demanded bribes from companies and NGOs seeking agency contracts, with payments calculated as a percentage of the contract value, allegedly ranging from 5 to 50 per cent.
Speaking to AFP, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) described aid distribution in the country as “extremely complex” and said it is aware of Taliban attempts to interfere with and restrict humanitarian work. The mission insisted, however, that it has “strong safeguards” in place to ensure assistance reaches intended recipients.
Based on interviews with 90 current and former US officials, UN officials, and Afghan aid workers, SIGAR said the Taliban “use every means at their disposal, including force” to control aid flows, directing them to areas they choose rather than those identified by donors. The report accused the Taliban of ethnic bias in distribution, favouring Pashtun-majority areas while neglecting minority communities.
