Is Afghanistan a Republic of NGOs?

There is a proverb in Afghanistan that says, “The one who feeds, commands.”

This may not be entirely true in the case of the de facto Taliban regime that rules but does not provide food for an overwhelming majority of Afghans who are suffering from hunger.

“It's important to recognize that in an acute crisis when time is of the essence, providing assistance through the U.N. and NGOs can help deliver urgent lifesaving support very quickly,” Sarah Rose, a policy expert with the Center for Global Development, told VOA.