World Bank bid to free Afghan funds

The World Bank plans to deliver up to $500 million from a frozen Afghan reconstruction fund to humanitarian agencies, as millions of Afghans face food shortages and growing poverty

Aug 2021, Taliban takeover of Afghanistan:
World Bank stops all disbursements from $1.5 billion
Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF)

Afghanistan public spending: Foreign grants finance 75% of total expenditures

$4.95bn Other foreign governments: 45%

Health spending: $312 million – just $8 per person

$3.30bn ARTF: Biggest donor contributes 30%

$2.75bn Government own-revenues: 25%

Total public spending $11bn


Education: $630 million
Spending has decreased by 13% over past five years

ARTF plan for humanitarian aid to bypass Taliban

1. U.S. dollars: Transferred to international accounts of Afghan private institutions

2. Afghan institutions: Disburse local currency from their Afghan bank accounts directly to aid groups

3. Aid groups: Agencies to use funds for coronavirus vaccines and food aid. Less than 7% of population is vaccinated. 39 million Afghans face food shortages
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Sources: Reuters, SIGAR, World Bank Pictures: Getty Images
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