Funds allocated to combat coronavirus crisis in Afghanistan are being embezzled by provincial governments, deputy minister for information and culture said on Wednesday.
Around seven billion afghanis have been allocated so far for the fight against coronavirus and provincial authorities being given extended authority on how to spend the funds, according to the finance ministry.
Abdul Manan Shewaye Sharq, deputy minister for information and culture, told a press conference that the funds are being embezzled.
For example, he said, a bed costs 17,200 afghanis in Kabul while the provincial government in Badakhshan has reported it to have cost 48,000 afghanis.
“It is the biggest treason against the people of Afghanistan,” he said calling for investigation of corruption in coronavirus response procurement.
Afghanistan’s Integrity Watch also expressed concern over the embezzlement of coronavirus response funds in provinces.
Naser Temori of IWA said that the provincial governments lack capacity to spend the funds in a transparent manner.
