EU to provide €75 million in aid to Afghanistan

KABUL (TOLOnews): The European Commission has allocated €75 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan to address the food security situation, adding in a statement that an estimated 24 million people are in need, and that winter and natural disasters have recently affected the country.
According to the statement, the EU Commission announced a new humanitarian aid package of €210 million ahead of the G-20 summit in Bali.
The aid is to be provided in 15 countries to meet their growing needs, the statement said.
“In 2022, food insecurity reached unprecedented levels, both in scale and severity with at least 205 million people currently acutely food insecure and requiring urgent assistance,” the report said.
“This is the highest level on record. Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen remain at risk of famine.”
Afghanistan has recently plunged into an economic crisis that has triggered a severe humanitarian situation.
“The aid was not distributed as well as the people expected it to be. We request the government to pay further attention to it,” said Ajmal Bahavi, a resident of Kabul.
“The aid should be given to poor and vulnerable people, not to those who have one or two cars, or have a luxury residence,” said Mohammad Qassim, a resident of Kabul.
The Ministry of Economy welcomed the aid provided by the European Union but stressed that if the aid is provided in coordination with the Islamic Emirate, it will improve the livelihood of the Afghan people.
“Considering the economic problems, and the start of winter, if this aid is distributed in coordination with the ministries and based on plans, it will improve the livelihood of our citizens,” he said.
Earlier, the EU announced a package of €50 million.
According to Da Afghanistan Bank (Central Bank), more than $1.5 billion of humanitarian cash aid has arrived since the Islamic Emirate came to power in the country.
According to the statement, a total of €75 million will be provided to Afghanistan.
The rest of the €210 million package will go to East and Southern Africa, Middle East and Latin America.