OFAC and Afghanistan

An announcement on September 24, 2021, was made by the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, issuing two general licenses to support the continued flow of humanitarian assistance or other activities that support the basic human needs for the people of Afghanistan.

Humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic needs are conducted by independent organizations like UN agencies and NGOs and are aimed at providing vulnerable Afghans with critically needed food, emergency health needs, and emergency health needs including those related to COVID-19, and other urgently needed humanitarian relief.

The Treasury took further steps to mitigate the impact of sanctions on humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan by issuing two general licenses and four Frequently Asked Questions. These actions authorize the U.S. Government, certain international organizations including the UN and the World Bank and NGOs and those acting on their behalf, to continue humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan.

These licenses and corresponding FAQs, or Frequently Asked Questions, will enable non-U.S. persons, including NGOs and foreign financial institutions, to continue to support critical and lifesaving activities. This follows past precedent in which the United States has taken steps to address urgent humanitarian needs in jurisdictions subject to U.S. sanctions regulations, as is the case here.

News Reports about OFAC and Afghanistan

December 22, 2021. "Treasury Issues Additional General Licenses and Guidance in Support of Humanitarian Assitance and Other Support to Afghanistan", U.S. Department of Treasury Press Release.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0545

September 24, 2021. "Treasury Issues General Licenses and Guidance to Facilitate Humanitarian Assistance in Afghanistan", U.S. Department of the Treasury press release.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0372

September 24, 2021. "Department of State Briefing - September 24, 2021", U.S. Department of State.