Relentless hunger rages in Afghanistan. Why? The Biden administration has frozen $9.5 billion of the Afghan central bank’s reserves held in the U.S. It has seized $7 billion of that, saying half will go to 9/11 families and the rest to “future humanitarian aid.” The economy is paralyzed. Most international aid, which the country has long depended on, has been suspended.
Biden claims this is to pressure the Taliban government, but it is devastating the whole population. There are no jobs. Ninety-five percent of people do not have enough to eat. Half face famine. People are begging, stealing, abusing drugs, selling children and body parts, and committing suicide.
There is little escape. NATO countries are admitting only a handful of refugees. Those fleeing to Turkey and Iran are beaten, fired on and deported. U.S. coverage of the anniversary of the military’s withdrawal last August barely mentions the starvation.
In the name of humanity, the U.S. government must release Afghanistan’s funds and provide massive infusions of aid. Open U.S. and NATO borders to Afghan refugees, especially women, civil libertarians, secularists and other Taliban-targeted victims!
