Nations offer Afghanistan aid, demand accountability
Afghans sought help for its $50 billion five-year plan as donors met in Paris June 12.
from the June 13, 2008 edition
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Accountability works both ways
Sen. Joseph Biden, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, argued this week that accountability works both ways. Foreign aid to a state riddled by Soviet and then tribal wars, and whose conditions were called "medieval" prior to the NATO action in 2001, has never been as robust as promised. He accused the White House of "re-committing the same pot of already-pledged money again in Paris."
"Six and a half years after the ouster of the Taliban, it's hard to believe that our development efforts fall so far short of the Marshall Plan promised by President Bush," Senator Biden said.
While $25 billion in nonmilitary aid has been proffered to Kabul over the past seven years, about $15 billion has been dispersed. Of this, as much as 30 or 40 percent was recouped by foreign corporations and salaries.
US director of foreign aid Henrietta Fore told reporters in Paris that much aid remains in the pipeline simply because the bidding process was so slow, and that aid was often not ready to be received. After Paris, however, Ms. Fore said more aid will "flow directly" through the government. "There's a sense that aid should be coming through the Afghan government, and as many ministries as possible," she said.
William Wood, US ambassador, told reporters US funds will be prioritized on energy, agriculture, and 2009 elections.
First lady Bush, in requesting to Congress some $10.2 billion in US funding over two years, speak of meeting with Afghan women at the White House recently. Their report "weighs heavily on my mind," Ms. Bush said, since many females "live in fear of a return of the Taliban," and they told her "we must take advantage of this time."
Aid pledges for Afghanistan
Nations and international organizations are offering to help fund Afghanistan's $50 billion five-year plan, including:
Australia: A$250 million ($234.3 million) over 3 years
Britain: About £600 million ($1.2 billion) to 2013*
France: ¤107 million ($165 million) to 2010
Germany: ¤420 million ($648 million) for 2008-10
Japan: $550 million*
U.S.: $10.2 billion over 2 years
Asian Development Bank: $1.3 billion over 5 years
World Bank: $1.1 billion over 5 years
*Amount announced before conference.
SOURCE: Reuters
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