A spokesman for the US Treasury said today, Thursday, that the department has informed financial institutions that they can handle personal transfers to Afghanistan.
Afghanistan relies heavily on remittances, such as remittances from migrants and labor abroad, which make up about 4% of gross domestic product, according to Reuters.
Western Union resumes services
The US company, Western Union, announced today the resumption of its services in Afghanistan.
This came in a statement published by the company on its official account on the “Twitter” website, in which it indicated that the money transfer service to Afghanistan will resume as of today.
She explained that the move aims to "enable the company's customers, in more than 200 countries around the world, to send money back to their loved ones in Afghanistan."
"We understand the urgent needs of our customers and their families and are committed to supporting them," the statement added.
He pointed out that the company "will not charge fees for remittances from 3 to 17 September."
And the British newspaper, The Independent, quoted on Thursday, Jean-Claude Farah, the company's president for Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as saying that the decision "is in line with Washington's desire to allow the continuation of humanitarian activities in Afghanistan."
Farah explained that the reason for the company's resumption of its work in Afghanistan is its desire to support the basic needs of the Afghan people, through remittances that take place through the company.
Western Union (the largest money transfer company) and MoneyGram
suspended these services after the Taliban seized power on August 15, stopping the flow of money for many families who depend on them for their daily sustenance.