World Bank "Deeply Concerned," Pauses Aid To Afghanistan

The World Bank said today that it has paused disbursements in operations in Afghanistan.

The World Bank has suspended aid to Afghanistan, saying it is "deeply concerned" about the situation there after the Taliban seized power and especially the prospects for women, a bank spokesperson told AFP. "We have paused disbursements in our operations in Afghanistan and we are closely monitoring and assessing the situation," the official said. The World Bank has more than two dozen development projects ongoing in the country and has provided $5.3 billion since 2002, mostly in grants, according to the bank's website.