Afghanistan has suffered extensive damage and thousands have lost their homes following a powerful earthquake that struck the country about a week ago. More than 2,200 people have died in the earthquake. However, the United States has not taken any steps so far to provide the urgent assistance needed by Afghanistan. It remains unclear at this point whether the US will provide any level of assistance to Afghanistan in this situation. Previously, the US was the largest provider of aid to Afghanistan. The US’s failure to take action to help those affected by the most powerful earthquake to hit Afghanistan in recent history is evidence that the country is implementing President Donald Trump’s decision made last April to cut off all aid to Afghanistan. The US made that decision at the time claiming that 10.9 million US dollars out of the 562 million US dollars released to aid organizations to assist Afghanistan had been paid to the Taliban government in the form of taxes, fees, and duties.
This US decision is a measure taken under a decision made by the US to stop providing assistance to foreign countries. As a result of the US decision, aid provided to Afghanistan through USAID has come to an end, while medicines and food previously sent to the country by the US are stuck in warehouses. US permission is needed to distribute these items to the Afghan people. The US State Department sent condolences to Afghanistan through social media last Monday in connection with the earthquake. However, the US has not yet made any announcement stating that Afghanistan needs humanitarian assistance. This is the first step that needs to be taken to authorize the provision of humanitarian aid. Such an announcement is typically made within 24 hours of a disaster occurring.
Sources say that the US State Department has considered the advice it has received regarding providing assistance to Afghanistan. The White House has also reportedly considered the matter. However, the US is not willing to change its policy of ending aid to Afghanistan. When asked whether the US would provide emergency assistance to those affected by the 6.0 magnitude earthquake, a White House official said that Trump is making special efforts to ensure that US aid does not reach the Taliban. The White House has noted that an American citizen is currently being held by the Taliban.
When asked if they would provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake, the US State Department also said they have no announcement to make regarding that at this time.
