Where is all the promised international aid for the rebuilding of Afghanistan? It has been estimated by aid agencies that up to $30 billion is needed this decade. Following the Tokyo donor conference at the start of this year, pledges of just a tenth of that sum were made, principally by Japan, the US, the European Union and Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom has already delivered substantial amounts of its promised aid, over and above the millions of dollars from both official and private sources that were handed over after the disastrous earthquake hit the country. However, other international financial commitments within the even the $3 billion rebuilding package have been alarmingly slow to arrive.
Some donors have pointed out that they are not prepared to pour money into the country unless they can be sure that it is being used for the purposes for which it was earmarked. This reluctance applies in particular to large infrastructural projects such as the rebuilding of roads and bridges. It has been undeniable that the Afghan governmental infrastructure necessary to implement such major works has been lacking. However, in the early euphoric days of the Taleban’s ouster, the international community was talking enthusiastically about providing the know-how to get government departments up and running properly. That know-how has unfortunately been remarkably slow in appearing. So far, the largest flows of aid are still coming through the international nongovernmental agencies (NGOs).
The Kingdom has already delivered substantial amounts of its promised aid, over and above the millions of dollars from both official and private sources that were handed over after the disastrous earthquake hit the country. However, other international financial commitments within the even the $3 billion rebuilding package have been alarmingly slow to arrive.
Some donors have pointed out that they are not prepared to pour money into the country unless they can be sure that it is being used for the purposes for which it was earmarked. This reluctance applies in particular to large infrastructural projects such as the rebuilding of roads and bridges. It has been undeniable that the Afghan governmental infrastructure necessary to implement such major works has been lacking. However, in the early euphoric days of the Taleban’s ouster, the international community was talking enthusiastically about providing the know-how to get government departments up and running properly. That know-how has unfortunately been remarkably slow in appearing. So far, the largest flows of aid are still coming through the international nongovernmental agencies (NGOs).