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Austria Pledges €7M Aid to Afghanistan: OCHA

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report that the government of Austria has provided €7 million in aid to Afghanistan.  

According to OCHA, the funds will be sent directly to aid organizations in order to prevent “their misuse by the Taliban regime.” 

Four million euros will go to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), one million euros to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and two million euros to Austrian aid organizations in Afghanistan, the report reads.  

“The situation in Afghanistan is disastrous. Multiple crises are exponentially increasing the suffering. In addition to war, pandemic, hunger, and flight from a dictatorial regime, now an earthquake has caused numerous fatalities and robbed many people of their homes,” said Austrian Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler quoted in a statement of Austria's Foreign Ministry.

“Our duty is crystal clear: We must not forget the people of Afghanistan. We must help provide the all-too-necessary humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. This disbursement from the replenished Relief Fund for Disasters Abroad makes it possible to support experienced international organisations and Austrian NGOs with their vital work in Afghanistan.” 

Meanwhile, the Afghan Ministry of Economy said that the aid will be welcome to alleviate the crisis for a short time.  

“We have plans for rooting out poverty. Based on the Ministry of Economy’s view, the plans include the increase of economic infrastructure, livelihoods, agriculture and trade. There are strategic plans in this regard,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.  

The deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, welcomed the aid but suggested the aid should be dispersed in coordination with the Islamic Emirate.  

“All the aid coming should be provided to the people who deserve it through a transparent process. We are distributing the aid in coordination with various organizations,” he said.  

The economists believe that the short term aid cannot fix the Afghan economic situation.  

“This aid is short-term, and due to existing corruption, it will not be distributed to those who really need it and thus it cannot help the Afghan economic situation,” said Seyar Qureshi, an economist.  

After a devastating earthquake hit southeastern Afghanistan, many European countries, US, China, Japan, Indian, UAE and Pakistan pledged to provide aid to the people of Afghanistan.  

Based on OCHA’s report, 24.5 million people in Afghanistan currently rely on humanitarian aid, including nearly 13 million children. In addition, 19 million Afghans are experiencing an acute food crisis. 

Austria Pledges €7M Aid to Afghanistan: OCHA

Meanwhile, the Afghan Ministry of Economy said that the aid will be welcome to alleviate the crisis for a short time.  

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The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report that the government of Austria has provided €7 million in aid to Afghanistan.  

According to OCHA, the funds will be sent directly to aid organizations in order to prevent “their misuse by the Taliban regime.” 

Four million euros will go to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), one million euros to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and two million euros to Austrian aid organizations in Afghanistan, the report reads.  

“The situation in Afghanistan is disastrous. Multiple crises are exponentially increasing the suffering. In addition to war, pandemic, hunger, and flight from a dictatorial regime, now an earthquake has caused numerous fatalities and robbed many people of their homes,” said Austrian Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler quoted in a statement of Austria's Foreign Ministry.

“Our duty is crystal clear: We must not forget the people of Afghanistan. We must help provide the all-too-necessary humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. This disbursement from the replenished Relief Fund for Disasters Abroad makes it possible to support experienced international organisations and Austrian NGOs with their vital work in Afghanistan.” 

Meanwhile, the Afghan Ministry of Economy said that the aid will be welcome to alleviate the crisis for a short time.  

“We have plans for rooting out poverty. Based on the Ministry of Economy’s view, the plans include the increase of economic infrastructure, livelihoods, agriculture and trade. There are strategic plans in this regard,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.  

The deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, welcomed the aid but suggested the aid should be dispersed in coordination with the Islamic Emirate.  

“All the aid coming should be provided to the people who deserve it through a transparent process. We are distributing the aid in coordination with various organizations,” he said.  

The economists believe that the short term aid cannot fix the Afghan economic situation.  

“This aid is short-term, and due to existing corruption, it will not be distributed to those who really need it and thus it cannot help the Afghan economic situation,” said Seyar Qureshi, an economist.  

After a devastating earthquake hit southeastern Afghanistan, many European countries, US, China, Japan, Indian, UAE and Pakistan pledged to provide aid to the people of Afghanistan.  

Based on OCHA’s report, 24.5 million people in Afghanistan currently rely on humanitarian aid, including nearly 13 million children. In addition, 19 million Afghans are experiencing an acute food crisis. 

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