How HesabPay and Algorand Are Enabling Humanitarian Aid and Financial Inclusion in Afghanistan

A sudden shift unfolded across Afghanistan once American and NATO troops left in August 2021. Power structures backed by Washington vanished almost overnight; chaos spread quickly through regions. Instead, authority shifted back into the hands of the Taliban – two decades after their last rule ended. Hardship deepened ever since, turning daily life into struggle for millions. Among the worst humanitarian emergencies today, the nation battles crippling poverty, hunger that reaches far, along with frozen financial systems. 

Right now, about 97 out of every 100 people in Afghanistan survive on less than what is considered a basic living standard. Close to twenty million individuals – half the country’s residents – face severe shortages in reliable access to meals, reports the UN’s food aid agency. Over a million kids younger than five endure ongoing lack of proper nutrition, their growth stunted by months without balanced diets. While some manage to stay alive, future well-being frequently remains compromised due to lasting physical strain. When circumstances reach this level, outside help isn’t just helpful – it becomes something people depend on simply to continue breathing. 

Hardship deepens as economic strains mount. Drought drags on, world food costs climb, while aid linked to departing troops vanishes overnight – wrecking ways people earn a living. Few jobs exist; instead, each day brings another test just to stay alive for countless Afghan families. 

With sanctions in place, overseas funds locked up, banks barely functioning, yet cash hard to find, money flows have shrunk sharply nationwide. Because of these pressures, large numbers rely on support from global bodies like the WFP, UNICEF, along with key NGOs. Even so, amid ongoing challenges, a local tech venture named HesabPay introduced a digital payment system using Algorand’s blockchain, aiming to send assistance straight to people. 

A digital form of the Afghan Afghani, supported by real money held in bank accounts, is released by HesabPay. Built on the Algorand blockchain, it handles transfers efficiently. Even without smartphones, people move money thanks to compatibility with basic handsets. Payments happen daily – for food, phone credit, power charges – without delays. Changing paper notes into electronic value takes place at local centers run by HesabPay. These spots stretch across every province, reaching distant regions others miss. Access stays open regardless of location because of this spread. 

A single QR card connects each user to their account, helping those without phones join easily. When someone pays, shops scan the code while confirmation comes via text message – no tech skills needed. Backing it up, checks grow stricter step by step: identity verified, banned parties screened, transactions watched using shared ledger tracking to block fraud before it spreads.

With a network now reaching 400,000 individuals and 3,000 businesses across the country, HesabPay has handled close to 4.5 million transactions so far. 

Running on Algorand’s blockchain technology, it keeps transaction costs minimal – often zero – for consumers at storefronts. When assistance flows straight into the hands of women, results shift noticeably; household stability strengthens, community wellbeing rises. Efficiency isn’t the only outcome here. 

Now imagine a tool that quietly reshapes aid delivery – HesabPay does exactly that by using blockchain to build systems that grow easily, stay clear, and include more people. Where banks vanish or never existed, alternatives like this prove di

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