World Bank halts aid to Afghanistan, ‘deeply concerned’ on prospects for women

LONDON — The World Bank has develop into the most fashionable international organization to halt aid disbursements to Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover.

The Islamic militant community has controlled the Afghan capital of Kabul for extra than a week now. It marked the collapse of the nation’s executive as U.S. and allied troops withdraw from the battle-torn nation after 20 years.

“We are deeply concerned in regards to the situation in Afghanistan and the impact on the nation’s construction prospects, especially for women,” a spokesperson for the World Bank told CNBC through email.

“We now possess paused disbursements in our operations in Afghanistan and we are closely monitoring and assessing the situation in response to our internal policies and procedures. As we construct so, we can continue to consult closely with the international community and construction companions,” the identical spokesperson said.

The World Bank had dedicated extra than $5.3 billion for construction initiatives in Afghanistan.

The International Monetary Fund determined final week to also block the Taliban from having access to financial sources. The Washington-based totally institution wants some readability relating to the longer term executive in Kabul before making its funding on the market once more.

There is a identical stance from Germany and the broader European Union, who possess also frozen construction funds to the Center Eastern nation in the wake of the Taliban takeover.

“The future construction assistance has to be condition-based totally. It continuously is condition-based totally, linked to traditional values, human rights, and naturally women’s rights. And it is self-talking that the enchancment assistance of the longer term has also to be strictly condition-based totally,” Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, said Tuesday at a press conference.

She added that the EU has 1 billion euros ($1.17 billion) dwelling aside for the next seven years for Afghanistan. “It is miles frozen till we possess got true guarantees and credible actions on the bottom that the conditions are being met,” she said.

Then once more, the EU announced on Tuesday it used to be stepping up its aid for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan from 50 million euros this year to 200 million euros. The concept is to stop a extreme humanitarian shock from the unfolding situation on the bottom.

“This would perchance also wait on meet the pressing wants of Afghans each in Afghanistan nonetheless also after all in the neighboring host countries,” von der Leyen also said.

The EU is eager to reinforce nations bordering Afghanistan, akin to Pakistan and Iran, to stop an acute refugee disaster.

European leaders are willing to rehome some refugees from Afghanistan, nonetheless it wants to stop an enormous influx identical to what the region witnessed in 2015 and 2016 in the wake of the conflict in Syria.

Following an emergency G-7 leaders video name on Tuesday, the U.Okay. and Canada dedicated to derive in about 20,000 refugees each.