Indonesia Provides $10 Million to Support Capacity Building in Afghanistan

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia has provided a total of $10 million funds through trilateral cooperation and capacity building program to support Afghanistan, a top diplomat said on Monday, September 13.

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said the financial assistance was distributed to empower women, develop small-medium enterprises, good governance, and natural resources in Afghanistan.

The minister also reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to continue to support the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

“Indonesia is committed to assisting with $3 million to the people of Afghanistan with the help of a trusted local partner,” Retno said during a virtual High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan.

Also read: Indonesia Hopes Peace Process in Afghanistan Will Succeed

Of the total aid, $150,000 of which was allocated for humanitarian aid in emergencies. Meanwhile, about $2.85 million will be distributed to support the development in various sectors such as health, education, women's empowerment, and mining in Afghanistan over the next three years.

In the last few years, Indonesia has consistently assisted in the development of Afghanistan.
“The safety and welfare of the Afghan people is a top priority,” she said.

She also expressed the importance of an inclusive government, protection of human rights, and efforts to prevent the spread of terrorism in Afghanistan to create a safe country and restore the trust of the international community. The international community has the responsibility to ensure that the aid is delivered quickly and smoothly to the people in Afghanistan.

Also read: Indonesian Nationals Evacuated from Afghanistan in Secret Operation

She hoped that international solidarity would realize a positive leap for the achievement of sustainable peace for the people of Afghanistan.

Still at the meeting, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Afghans were experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The situation is exacerbated by a severe drought, damaged infrastructure, basic public services, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Guterres said that over 11 million people in Afghanistan urgently need assistance. He urged the international community to support the UN Flash Appeal for $606 million to help the Afghans.

He called for the international community to provide supports, including financial assistance to the Afghan people.

The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials at the ministerial level from all UN members and international organizations.

(Writer: Rahel Narda Chaterine | Editor: Bayu Galih)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/09/14/11181191/pertemuan-pbb-menlu-ri-tekankan-keselamatan-dan-kehidupan-masyarakat?page=all#page2.