The United States committed over $885 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in the 2024 fiscal year, according to a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). The aid package included substantial contributions through various U.S. agencies to support the country’s ongoing humanitarian needs.
USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance has allocated more than $534 million to support several United Nations agencies involved in relief efforts across Afghanistan. Of this, $280 million has been earmarked for the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) to fund food assistance through cash transfers, vouchers, and logistical support, the report stated.
The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) has continued its partnerships with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other organizations to assist Afghan refugees, returnees, and vulnerable populations. In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, PRM committed an additional $93 million to support the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), and UNHCR’s humanitarian projects in Afghanistan.
SIGAR also noted that USAID has reported nearly $839 million in obligations from the Economic Support Fund and Global Health Programs account between fiscal years 2022 and 2024, which are backing 40 active initiatives. In the last quarter of FY 2024, USAID allocated nearly $200 million to foster economic growth and public health programs, including new initiatives such as Countering Trafficking in Persons, Women and Men in Agriculture, and the Afghanistan Integrated Youth Activity.
In 2022, the U.S. transferred $3.5 billion in previously frozen Afghan central bank assets to a Swiss-based trust, the Fund for the Afghan People. Although no disbursements have been made from the fund, it was established to help maintain macroeconomic stability on behalf of the Afghan people. The fund could potentially recapitalize Afghanistan’s central bank if conditions permit, ensure the country stays current on debt payments to international financial institutions to maintain eligibility for development assistance, and pay for critical imports.
As of June 28, 2024, the balance of the fund stood at $3.84 billion, including interest accrued, according to the fund’s official website. SIGAR reported no new updates on the fund’s balance for the most recent quarter.
