Nonprofits warn US aid to Afghanistan at risk of falling directly into hands of Taliban

Nonprofit groups are warning that American aid intended to assist the people of Afghanistan is instead being misappropriated by the Taliban.

The situation in Afghanistan has steadily deteriorated since President Biden's hasty withdrawal last summer, with new reports showing widespread hunger and insecurity among the general population.

The United Nations has, in response, urged wealthy nations to contribute to the humanitarian effort to provide assistance to those in need, seeking nearly $5 billion.

The Taliban recently expressed a desire to play a greater role in the distribution of foreign aid to Afghanistan, leading to a discussion over how aid should be best provided by foreign nations.

Some groups are warning though that despite the US' best intentions, aid is likely to end up in the hands of the Taliban, with ordinary citizens not seeing any of it.

As Fox News reports, nonprofit Save Our Allies says US aid will likely end up supplying the Taliban with food, while the people of Afghanistan continue to suffer.

Save Our Allies programs manager Sean Kilbrane suggests instead that "allocating portions to our nonprofits and organizations, here at home who are working on this, would make a [greater impact]," adding that the humanitarian aid in its current form does not help the most vulnerable.

Groups warned as far back as September that navigating around the Taliban would be hard for those seeking to provide aid, given their tight control over the country.

Nonetheless, on Tuesday the UN released a statement, warning that "without this being funded there won't be a future," and that if the funding goal is not reached, "next year we’ll be asking for $10 billion."

The United States Agency for International Development announced not long after that the government would be contributing $308 million to the pot.

"The new contribution from the United States," USAID says, "will provide life-saving aid for the most vulnerable, to include women, girls, minority populations, and people with disabilities. This assistance includes food and nutrition assistance; support for health care facilities and mobile health teams; winterization programs—including the provision of emergency cash grants, shelter kits, heaters, blankets, and warm clothing; and logistics and transportation support to ensure that aid workers and critical relief supplies can make it to the hardest to reach areas."

The official statement claims that, "President Biden has been clear that humanitarian assistance will continue to flow directly to the Afghan people."