Washington (IINA) : The World Bank on Tuesday said it had approved a $520 million plan to help Afghanistan, which has been weakened by the Taliban insurgency and gradual withdrawal of US troops, AFP reported.

Almost half of the amount, given in the form of grants, will be dedicated to supporting people displaced by the violence in the country and those returning from exile in neighboring Pakistan, the bank said in a statement.

The rest will be allocated to anti-poverty reforms aimed at “increasing economic opportunities” by developing the private sector and improving power supply to households and businesses in the province of Herat, located in the northwestern part of Afghanistan, the statement added.