WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — The United States has excluded Afghanistan from a new $2 billion United Nations humanitarian aid package, citing concerns that parts of previous international assistance were diverted to the Taliban, according to US officials.
The decision, announced as Washington unveiled its latest contribution to UN coordinated humanitarian programmes, marks a significant shift in American engagement with Afghanistan’s worsening crisis. While the funding is intended to support emergency relief efforts across multiple conflict zones, Afghanistan was deliberately omitted from the allocation.
Officials from the Trump administration said they possess evidence indicating that a portion of UN aid distributed inside Afghanistan had been redirected or compromised under Taliban control. Although specific details of the evidence were not made public, the claim reflects long standing concerns within Washington over oversight, access and accountability in Taliban governed areas.
The exclusion comes despite the scale of Afghanistan’s humanitarian emergency. Aid agencies estimate that nearly half the country’s population requires urgent assistance as economic collapse, displacement and food insecurity continue to deepen following the Taliban’s return to power.
US officials maintain that the decision is not permanent and could be reviewed if stronger safeguards are put in place to prevent diversion. For now, however, Afghanistan remains excluded as Washington presses the UN and aid partners to tighten monitoring mechanisms and ensure assistance reaches civilians rather than armed groups.
The move underscores a broader recalibration of US foreign aid policy, with increased emphasis on accountability and a reduced tolerance for perceived misuse, even as global humanitarian needs reach record levels.
