USAID welcomes the announcement by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that it is expanding authorizations for commercial and financial transactions in Afghanistan, including with its governing institutions. The issuance of General License (GL) 20 aims to ensure that U.S. sanctions do not prevent or inhibit the transactions and activities needed to support the basic human needs of the people of Afghanistan, and underscores the United States’ commitment to working with the private sector, international partners and allies, and international organizations to support the people of Afghanistan.
GL 20 authorizes all transactions involving Afghanistan or governing institutions in Afghanistan, subject to certain conditions. Critically, it helps provide additional clarity to non-governmental organizations, international organizations, financial institutions, and private sector entities that they can facilitate the broad range of activities needed to address Afghanistan’s dire humanitarian crisis, including commercial activities in or involving Afghanistan. The United States continues to maintain robust sanctions on the Taliban and Haqqani Network. As the U.S. government provides necessary exemptions to help the aid community more easily work with local partners in Afghanistan, we will continue to apply rigorous sanctions to the Taliban and their collaborators until they halt their repressive actions.
As the single largest donor of humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, the United States has provided more than half a billion dollars in humanitarian assistance since August 2021. USAID remains steadfastly committed to helping address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, and USAID assistance is currently providing food, nutrition, shelter, water, medical care, protection services and other critical life-saving support. U.S. Government-supported humanitarian and development partners remain operational, are working to maintain safe continuation of life-saving aid and programs, and have expanded operations across the country in response to the humanitarian needs. USAID will continue working closely with other U.S. Government agencies, United Nations organizations such as UNICEF and the World Food Program, donor partners, and the international community to provide assistance that meets urgent needs and directly benefits the people of Afghanistan.