WASHINGTON: The Special Representative of the US for Afghan Affairs Thomas West has said that the majority of the Afghans need humanitarian aid and help, local media reported on Thursday.
He emphasized that a significant portion of the Afghan population requires humanitarian aid and assistance, adding the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan could not be addressed with aid such as flour and oil, and the war-hit country needs “sustainable livelihood and private sector development.”
He made these remarks during an online meeting with representatives of various Afghan media outlets. Tom West acknowledged the ongoing need for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, with over 70 percent of the population requiring such support.
John F. Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction in the U.S. Congress Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concerns about the possibility of potential misuse of aid by the Taliban.
John F. Sopko pointed out instances of Taliban interference in aid distribution and the creation of fraudulent aid organizations diverting assistance for their gain.
The U.S. representative also noted that leading donor nations are engaged in talks regarding Afghanistan’s stability and economic advancement.
West said, “We must find a way to provide sustainable help. We want to move away from the current approach of distributing oil and flour. We want to create sustainable livelihoods that strengthen the private sector.”
