Afghan Refugees Demand Accountability Amid Allegations of Corruption in Aid Distribution

Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons have strongly criticized local officials for the distribution of humanitarian aid, accusing them of corruption and bias in favoring their relatives…

Residents Voice Concerns Over Mismanagement and Discrimination in Aid Distribution

Several internally displaced individuals and returnees from neighboring countries have reported to the media that humanitarian aid has not reached the true beneficiaries, accusing officials of selfish conduct and a lack of transparency. A woman from the displaced community in Panjshir province, now residing in Parwan, stated that she has not received any assistance in the past five years, expressing that aid packages are primarily distributed by local officials and their affiliates. Additionally, some returnees confirmed that despite repeated registrations in provinces like Bamiyan and Ghazni, they remain without any aid.

Warnings from International Agencies and Challenges Faced by Female Humanitarian Workers

These protests are escalating as Mohammad Nasiri, a senior official from UN Women, during his visit to Kabul, called for the lifting of the ban on women working in humanitarian organizations. The ban, enacted in late 2022, has severely affected the identification and assistance efforts for women and children—the most vulnerable segments of society.

Monitoring Reports Highlight Intermediary Presence and Administrative Interference

According to recent data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately 21.9 million people in Afghanistan will require urgent assistance in 2026. However, evaluations by independent agencies like Ground Truth Solutions and UN-affiliated organizations indicate that the presence of intermediaries, administrative corruption, and structural interference have diverted aid from its intended path, leaving genuine recipients deprived.

Silence from Officials and Previous Justifications

Following these allegations, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, did not respond to media inquiries. Previously, government officials have repeatedly denied allegations of interference in the distribution process or misappropriation of aid, claiming that humanitarian organizations continue to operate independently without administrative intervention across Afghanistan.