This quarterly report submitted by the Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) to Congress on Operation Enduring Sentinel (OES) discharges our quarterly reporting responsibilities pursuant to Section 419 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. In October 2021, the Department of Defense (DoD) initiated OES as the U.S. mission to conduct over-the-horizon counterterrorism operations against threats emanating from Afghanistan and to engage with Central Asian and South Asian regional partners to combat terrorism and promote regional stability.
This quarterly report describes the activities of the U.S. Government in support of OES, as well as the work of the DoD, the Department of State (State), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to further the U.S. Government’s policy goals in Afghanistan during the period of July 1 through September 30, 2024. This report also discusses the planned, ongoing, and completed oversight work conducted by the Lead IG agencies—the DoD, State, and USAID OIGs—and our partner oversight agencies.
USAID funded 23 active development awards during the quarter totaling $1.2 billion. Total funds obligated by USAID in fiscal year 2024 for development were $225 million, with $165 million disbursed. USAID staff were not able to conduct site visits in Afghanistan during the quarter. To provide oversight of its programs, USAID Afghanistan continued to use third-party monitoring for onsite review. USAID Afghanistan’s third party monitor temporarily suspended field monitoring from June 7 to July 7 due to safety concerns after subcontractor staff were detained.
Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan have risen significantly since the Taliban took over in August 2021. While the U.S. Government remains the largest humanitarian donor, funding falls short of declared need. The United Nations reported that as of August 30, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2024 had received 25 percent of the required $3.1 billion in needed funding. USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance provided nearly $535 million in assistance in fiscal year 2024.
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