WASHINGTON— Taliban have increasingly manipulated and restricted the distribution of U.S.-funded humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, according to a newly released report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). The report warns that without stronger oversight, billions of dollars in U.S. aid could be at risk of being misused or diverted by the Taliban.
The report says that since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban have exerted pressure on humanitarian organizations to ensure aid flows through their channels or reaches only select populations.
SIGAR says it has found multiple cases of interference.
World Food Program (WFP) halted operations: In May 2023, the WFP suspended food distribution in parts of Ghazni province due to Taliban demands that local officials control the distribution process.
Aid restrictions on women: In July 2023, the Taliban instructed aid groups to stop providing direct assistance to female beneficiaries, requiring a male guardian to collect aid on their behalf.
Blocked ration cards: In August 2023, the Taliban prevented certain recipients from receiving ration cards, disrupting the delivery of critical food assistance.
While some organizations have resisted Taliban demands—such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which refused to provide medical supplies to Taliban officials—others have struggled to operate under Taliban-imposed restrictions.
Despite these challenges, the report found that U.S. oversight of aid distribution remains inconsistent. The State Department and USAID have not consistently required Public International Organizations (PIOs) to report Taliban interference, limiting their ability to track and respond to aid diversion.
The U.S. government’s monitoring of aid in Afghanistan is riddled with inconsistencies, leaving billions of dollars in humanitarian funding at risk, the report said.
Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, U.S. agencies have funneled over $3 billion in aid through Public International Organizations (PIOs). However, SIGAR found that agencies such as the Department of State and USAID have failed to implement uniform oversight measures across these programs.
According to the report, USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) included provisions requiring aid groups to report Taliban interference, but USAID’s Afghanistan office (USAID/AFG) omitted similar clauses in three of its agreements, leaving significant gaps in tracking aid diversion.
The report says that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) did not adequately reassess aid program risks following the Taliban’s return to power, leading to concerns about aid effectiveness.
The report says that the U.S. relies on the United Nations’ “single audit” system for PIOs, which limits direct American oversight. As a result, accountability measures vary widely between different organizations receiving U.S. funding.
The report warns that these gaps in oversight leave U.S. aid vulnerable to misuse. SIGAR is now urging U.S. agencies to implement stronger monitoring mechanisms, including requiring all U.S.-funded aid organizations to report instances of Taliban interference, conducting independent, third-party audits of aid distribution and developing a uniform system to assess risk before granting funds to aid organizations.
SIGAR says that stronger enforcement mechanisms are needed to prevent U.S. funds from falling under Taliban control.
The report recommended mandating all aid organizations report any interference by the Taliban, strengthening monitoring systems, including third-party oversight and ensuring aid reaches vulnerable populations without Taliban involvement.
With over $3 billion in U.S. aid distributed through international partners, SIGAR warns that without immediate reforms, the effectiveness of humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan could be severely compromised.
