Earlier in the month, the White House announced they will send more than $308 million to the people of Afghanistan suffering under the new Taliban regime. Thankfully, after mounting pressure, the Biden administration has decided to participate in the aid.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) says, “This assistance includes food and nutrition assistance; support for health care facilities and mobile health teams; winterization programs—including the provision of emergency cash grants, shelter kits, heaters, blankets, and warm clothing; and logistics and transportation support to ensure that aid workers and critical relief supplies can make it to the hardest to reach areas.”

NBC spokesperson, Emily Horne, said the humanitarian aid will come from independent organizations. Women, young girls, people with disabilities, and other minorities will be prioritized in aid distribution. They will also provide the country with one million additional Covid-19 vaccines. This is happening just months after U.S. troops withdrew from the nearly 20 year war in the country. Due to millions of dollars in international funding being cut off and a severe drought which affected 85% of the population whose income stems from agriculture, the country’s economy has collapsed. These factors coupled with the swift Taliban takeover is leading the country into a humanitarian crisis.

As a matter of fact, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), “A total 22.8 million people, more than half the population, face acute hunger as temperatures plummet below zero.” Afghans in urgent need have had to do the unthinkable, like sell their daughters in order to survive. USAID ensures that the United States is committed to helping the people of Afghanistan, and will continue to alleviate their suffering.

SOURCE: Al JAZEERA