The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in its latest audit report that US government implementing partners paid at least $10.9 million to the Islamic Emirate government in the form of taxes, fees, import duties, or for the receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services since August 2021.

SIGAR also claimed the IEA “disrupted implementing partner activities through various means, including attempts to divert aid or infiltrate nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and interfere with their activities, which in some cases, negatively impacted the implementation of activities and diverted aid from the intended beneficiaries.”

SIGAR stated that of the $10.9 million, $10.4 million was spent on taxes; $346,839 on payments for utilities; $176,596 on fees; and $9,215 on customs duties.

SIGAR also found that the $10.9 million paid by 38 US Department of State (State), US Agency for International Development (USAID), and US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) implementing partners is likely only a fraction of the total amount of US assistance funds provided to the IEA in taxes, fees, duties, and utilities.

SIGAR reported this is because “UN agencies receiving US funds did not collect data or provide relevant information about their subawardees’ payments.”

According to SIGAR, from October 2021 through September 2023, the UN received $1.6 billion in US funding for programing in Afghanistan, approximately 63% of all US assistance funding for Afghanistan during that period.

“UN agreements with State and USAID do not include any requirements to annually report on taxes, fees, duties, or utilities incurred on US funds provided for activities in Afghanistan,” SIGAR stated.

SIGAR noted however that “implementing partners can experience significant consequences if they fail to pay the taxes, fees, duties, and utilities required by the Taliban-controlled (IEA) government of Afghanistan.”

However, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said in response to SIGAR’s latest report that Afghanistan’s caretaker government does not interfere in the process of distributing aid and the work of institutions.

At least 294 people have died and 266 others have been injured in floods over the last ten days, the ministry of state for disaster management confirmed Tuesday.

According to the ministry, the floods have had an enormous financial impact on 14 provinces in the country.

The spokesman said 14,923 houses have been completely or partially destroyed and so far more than 17,000 families have been given emergency aid.

The process of providing relief is ongoing, he said.

In the past 10 days, 14 provinces experienced devastating floods due to heavy rains, especially Baghlan, Takhar, Ghor, Badghis, Badakhshan, Samangan and Faryab.

Janan Saiq, the spokesperson for the Ministry of State for Disaster Management says 294 have died and 266 others have been injured.

In addition, 14,923 houses were affected, either partially or completely damaged while 6,000 livestock were wiped out.

Saiq said assessment teams rushed to help the flood victims as soon as possible and so far more than 17,000 families have been provided with aid.

He said more families were still in need of emergency assistance and that they would be provided with help.

Aid provided by the ministry included food, clothes and tents. Saiq said shelters will also be provided to the flood affected people.

At the same time the United Nations says that Afghan women and children have suffered the most in the recent floods. The United Nations Women’s Office, stated in a report on the situation of flood victims in a number of northeastern provinces of Afghanistan, that women and children were disproportionately affected by this natural event, because they were inside their homes during heavy rains.

According to the report among the injured are 74 women and 51 children under the age of five. Another 220 people needed medical help, including 79 women, 74 men and 67 children. UN Women said that women and girls in particular need health packages and health products, as well as nutritious food for pregnant and lactating women.

At the same time, UNAMA also says that 60,000 people were affected by the flood in Baghlan province.

According to the UN, 182 people, most of whom are women and children, died in Baghlan following the recent floods. UNAMA humanitarian affairs deputy said that UN humanitarian teams have been deployed to help the flood victims in Baghlan, Takhar and Badakhshan provinces.

Indrika Ratwatte added that so far, about 15,000 flood-affected people in northern Afghanistan have been supported by the United Nations and its partners.

On the other hand, UNAMA’s humanitarian aid coordinator in Afghanistan has emphasized that the international community should support the people of the country and help meet the needs of those affected by the floods.

Two hundred tons of emergency relief from Uzbekistan for flood victims has arrived at the Hairatan border post in northern Afghanistan and handed over to representatives of the Islamic Emirate on Tuesday.

The aid from Uzbekistan for flood victims included 48 tons of flour, 22 tons of rice, 100 tents, and 96 water tanks.

Rahmatul Haq Fazil, Afghanistan’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, said relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan were historical and that Uzbekistan has always cooperated with the people of Afghanistan and taken positive steps in the political, economic, commercial and transit sectors.

At the same time, Ismatullah Irgashev, Uzbekistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, said a path has been paved for the expansion of relations between the two countries.

Since the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in August 2021, Uzbekistan has sent in 10 shipments of aid following a spate of natural disasters over the past two and a half years.