UN seeks help for Afghans bypassing Taliban government
The United Nations is offering governments a new channel to safely pay frozen funds destined for Afghanistan before the Taliban seized power.
The United Nations Development Program launched a trust fund on Thursday to pay the money directly to Afghans on the ground.
UNDP chief Achim Steiner said Germany had already pledged 50 million euros ($58 million) to the fund.
The program indicated that about 600 million euros will be collected in the first half of the year to reach 4.5 million people.
The United Nations Development Fund wants to work with local partners to pay people and to repair irrigation canals and other infrastructure.
In addition, small businesses will be helped to survive.
Steiner said the goal is to prevent people from becoming dependent on humanitarian aid.
The elderly and sick will receive direct financial assistance.
Many countries froze their development aid to Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in August, wanting to avoid cooperating with the new regime after its rapid seizure of power.
Steiner said the UN Development Fund could guarantee that the money would be paid directly to those affected.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news