The World Bank and Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) Management Committee have recently approved three projects totalling $793 million that will provide urgent and essential food, livelihood, and health services to the people of Afghanistan, said a World Bank announcement.

The fund is intended to provide aid to the public outside of the Islamic Emirate’s control. 

“The project will focus on wheat production, supporting about 300,000 households in the November 2022 planting season and another 300,000 households in the March-November 2023 planting season. The project will support the nutritional needs of children, people with disabilities or chronic illness, and households headed by women by providing seeds and basic tools for backyard kitchen gardening and technical training on improved nutrition and climate-smart production practices,” the World Bank said in a statement.  “ About 150,000 women will receive training in cultivation and nutrition.”  

The Islamic Emirate once again said that the aid should be provided to the people in coordination with the current Afghan government.  

“The Islamic Emirate wants the funds that were allocated for Afghanistan in the past to be provided to ... the needy people of Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate is ready for any kind of cooperation in this area,” said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.  

“The Central Bank appreciates the decision of the World Bank and Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) to provide food materials, health services and liveihood resources to the people of Afghanistan,” said Sabir Momand, a spokesman for the Central Bank.  

Economists said that the humanitarian aid will only be helpful in the short term. 

“At the current situation, as all social services have been stopped, the international aid including the World Bank could be useful,” said Azeraksh Hafizi, an economist.  

Earlier, the World Bank allocated a $1 billion package of humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.