Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday made an exception for vital humanitarian aid, exempting it from a three-month suspension of US foreign aid.
The suspension of aid has also disrupted many humanitarian projects in Afghanistan.
The exemption came after US President Donald Trump decided last week to temporarily suspend foreign aid while his administration reviews whether the aid is consistent with his "America First" foreign policy.
The suspension, announced just hours after Trump took office, has raised concerns among aid agencies and international institutions.
Rubio had previously issued an exemption for emergency food aid on Friday. But the new exemption covers essential life-saving assistance, such as essential medicines, health services, food, shelter and other livelihood support. It also covers reasonable administrative costs for implementing the assistance.
“This exemption does not include activities such as abortions, family planning sessions, administrative costs associated with … ideological programs related to gender or social justice, gender reassignment surgery and other non-life-saving assistance,” the memo emphasized.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged the United States to consider additional exemptions to “ensure the continuation of essential development and humanitarian activities.”