How much humanitarian aid is the US sending to Afghanistan?

President Bush said in the State of the Union Address that ``America and Afghanistan are now allies against terror,'' and promised, ``we will be partners in rebuilding that country.''

However, humanitarian aid organizations in the U.S. have recently said that only a small fraction of the amount they have requested has been approved by the White House despite dire need in Afghanistan.
 

Source: ``Of $240 million requested most recently by the two main U.S. government agencies that provide foreign assistance for Afghanistan, the White House budget office agreed to ask Congress for $40 million.

President George W. Bush last month pledged a "Marshall Plan" for Afghanistan, but it is more promise than plan. "A sandwich with nothing in the middle," said Jim Bishop of InterAction, a council of 160 private groups that deliver foreign assistance.''

--``U.S. Promises to Afghan Women Unfulfilled,'' May 7th, 2002, Newsday.

A petition asking for more information on this subject is available here.