US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced nearly $144 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan on Thursday. “As part of our enduring commitment to the people of Afghanistan, the United States announced today nearly $144 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis,” Blinken said in a statement. “This assistance brings the total U.S. humanitarian aid in Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in the region to nearly $474 million in 2021, the largest amount of assistance from any nation,” he added. The additional humanitarian assistance “will enable our partners to provide lifesaving protection, food security support, essential health care, winterization assistance, logistics, and emergency food aid in response to the growing humanitarian needs exacerbated by healthcare shortages, COVID-19, drought, malnutrition, and the impending winter,” he said. The hectic exit saw the US ferry over 120,000 people out of Afghanistan as the Taliban laid claim to the capital, Kabul.

Source: The Nation October 30, 2021 21:59 UTC