Last week, the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) released its 63rd Quarterly Report, providing the latest information on U.S. assistance to Afghanistan. In the wake of the withdrawal of Western troops in August 2021, the subsequent collapse of the republican government, and the prolonged rise of the Taliban, these reports have shifted focus, but they still offer valuable information about a country that is far from the US headlines. It continues to be a treasure trove of information.
SIGAR noted that the United States “remains the largest donor to the Afghan people.” Since August 2021, $17.19 billion in assistance has been provided to Afghanistan and the Afghan Refugee Program. This includes $2.8 billion in spending for Afghanistan and commitments to defense and national programs, including Operation Welcoming Allies and Operation Enduring Welcoming, aimed at attracting and settling Afghan allies in the United States. It includes $10.8 billion in funds and $3.5 billion in frozen assets of the Central Bank of Afghanistan transferred to the fund. For the people of Afghanistan (no disbursements have been made so far).
The $2.8 billion earmarked for Afghanistan aid is primarily directed to the “humanitarian” funding category, with all categories of aid, including humanitarian, development, government operations, and security, declining sharply since October 2021. There is. Half, $1.6 billion, was allocated for fiscal year 2022 (starting in October 2021). Only $277 million was funded in fiscal year 2024.
SIGAR’s report details specific programs and is well worth reading to understand the breadth and scope of aid efforts and how efforts are faltering as budgets shrink. . For example, all USAID education programs listed in the report have been defunded starting in fiscal year 2022. The USAID program has continued funding through fiscal year 2024 and includes several health programs, one focused on early warning systems for emerging diseases and another for urban It focuses on health. So are economic growth programs focused on export-oriented competitiveness.
Difficulties in engaging with the Taliban and fears that funds would be diverted if taken under Taliban control have reduced opportunities to even address humanitarian issues. Taliban policies that limit women’s ability to work also have a negative impact on these efforts.
The essay section of the 63rd Quarterly Report focuses on the Afghan diaspora. Specifically, we will interview 61 members of the U.S. diaspora in four regions that will become major resettlement centers. Houston, Texas. Sacramento, California. Omaha, Nebraska. and washington d.c.
One of the themes SIGAR identified was a sense of mourning and betrayal. “Most Afghans who have been resettled in the United States are grieving the loss of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. This sense of betrayal extended to the government of the Republic of Afghanistan, which some interviewees said was unable to reassess the situation and reorganize, but rather to disband. criticized for not being able to do so.
Another theme is the belief among the diaspora that the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating and the fear that their relatives still in Afghanistan are at risk. Many said the Taliban’s ideology was imported and foreign to Afghanistan.
Finally, Mr. SIGAR said that most of the interviewees also described the new challenges they are facing in the United States. They are suffering, but the stress is compounded for families separated from their loved ones left behind in Afghanistan.”
Traveling to the United States is difficult, and not only is the road paved with cumbersome bureaucratic steps, but life in the United States can prove difficult for some to navigate. I am. Many rely on networks of friends and family and feel there is a lack of refugee resettlement agencies in the United States. Once settled, Afghans face a myriad of challenges, from unemployment to language barriers, and mental health problems stemming from trauma and isolation are exacerbated, especially for Afghan women who are confined to their homes in cramped apartments.
Diaspora members interviewed by SIGAR were reportedly divided over the issue of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. “While they agreed that there was great hunger and need in Afghanistan, some felt that U.S. aid, even inadvertently, strengthened the Taliban’s control.” Another official noted that U.S. disengagement would create space for U.S. competitors.
In the second half of the report, SIGAR details recent developments, citing the annual It notes that the World Happiness Report ranks Afghanistan as the unhappiest country. Out of 143 countries around the world. Neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Uzbekistan came in 108th and 47th place respectively.
