World Bank approves $97M grant to tackle COVID-19 and drought: Afghanistan

(MENAFN- Khaama Press)

To support Afghans affected by drought, Covid-19 pandemic, and nutrition security, the world bank has granted a total of $97.50 million from the international development association (IDA) to Afghanistan.

This grand will also help build  early warnings of drought and response systems for the country, World Bank said in  a statement on Tuesday

'The grant will help finance the Drought Early Warning, Early Finance, and Early Action Project (ENETAWF),' the statement said.

The project will facilitate regular humanitarian relief efforts, and provide unconditional cash support and cash-for-work benefits to 2.2 million afghans in 78 districts.

'The project will provide regular targeted financial assistance to households to build resilience and scale-up support across the country before and during droughts. It will also support the Government of Afghanistan to deliver critical weather, water, and climate information services, disseminate early warnings, and strengthen disaster preparedness within communities,' World Bank stated.

Henry Kerali, World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan said 'The IDA grant complements grants of $115 million from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, a multi-donor trust fund managed by the World Bank on behalf of 34 donors, plus $8 million from the Global Risk Financing Facility, and $2 million from the program for Asia Resilience to Climate Change Multi-donor Trust Fund,' adding that 'Afghanistan is one of the countries most affected and vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, and its weak response system has further contributed to this vulnerability,'.  

'This new financial assistance will help the Government of Afghanistan lessen drought impacts that have displaced millions of Afghans and pushed them into poverty. The project's support to Afghan rural households will contribute to overall poverty reduction and economic recovery,' Kerali added.

The organization stated that Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to intense and recurring droughts, which further undermine its growth and stability.

According to the statement, Afghanistan is extremely vulnerable to intense droughts which further affects growth and instability in the country.

'Natural disasters have spurred displacement, poverty, and food insecurity among rural Afghans, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated. Rural households, dependent on subsistence agriculture in drought-prone, rainfed areas, are especially vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity,' the World Bank said.

Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, will implement the project under which National Emergency Operations Center in the disaster management agency will further be strengthened,

'In addition, a Disaster Risk Management Resource Center will be established at the ministry.' The statement read.

'In line with the World Bank Group's institutional strategy on Fragility, Conflict, and Violence, the investments outlined in this project will seek to mitigate drivers of fragility by addressing some of its root causes and it will seek to strengthen the institutions necessary to transition the country out of fragility,' World Bank concluded in the statement.

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