WASHINGTON – The United States yesterday announced more than US$266 million (RM1 billion) in additional humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, intended mainly for its Covid-19 response, as foreign troops continue their withdrawal from the country.
“As the US withdraws military forces from Afghanistan, our enduring commitment is clear,” said top diplomat Antony Blinken.
“We remain engaged through our full diplomatic, economic and assistance toolkit to support the peaceful, stable future that Afghan people want and deserve.”
The aid is intended for areas such as protective equipment, shelter, food, and health and hygiene services related to the pandemic. It also provides for “protection needs for the most vulnerable Afghans”, including at-risk women and girls.
The US$266.5 million, made up of US$157.5 million from American aid agency Usaid and US$109 million from the State Department, brings total US humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in the fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to US$543 million.
Washington has still not made a decision on whether to evacuate Afghan interpreters who worked with the US military, who are now fearing for their lives as foreign troops pull out.
Twenty members of Congress yesterday appealed to President Joe Biden in an open letter to “immediately” evacuate the more than 18,000 interpreters and their families, who have filed for visas to come to the US.
Each application “takes an average of 800-plus days, and we plan to withdraw in less than 100 days”, said the letter by bipartisan elected officials.
No American entity “has the ability or authority to protect them in Afghanistan after our withdrawal. It would be a moral failure to transfer the responsibility to protect our Afghan partners onto the shoulders of the Afghan government”.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby yesterday said the White House has not ordered the military to evacuate the interpreters.
“We’re aware of some congressional interest in this… but nothing has changed since the last time we talked about this.” – AFP, June 5, 2021
