Summary: September 7, 2001: Commissioner Poul Nielson on humanitarian mission to Afghanistan and Pakistan from 12-19 September (Brussels)
Mr. Poul Nielson, European Commissioner responsible for development and humanitarian aid, is to visit Afghanistan and Pakistan from 12 to 19 September 2001. This visit is to show the European Union's continuing support for the Afghan people hit by war and drought. The European Commission has been providing substantial assistance worth over €400 million to Afghanistan since 1991 making it one of the world's largest donors to the country. Commissioner Nielson will use this visit to gather
first-hand information about the impact and effectiveness of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, as well as in Pakistan where the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) is assisting Afghan refugees living in camps. On the eve of his departure, Mr. Nielson stated, "A whole generation of Afghans has known nothing but conflict and drought. The European Commission has been providing substantial, continuous relief to the people of Afghanistan. It is not an easy task for our partners, who face tough challenges
operating in the field. With our full support, they are currently implementing numerous emergency projects for displaced people fleeing both drought and fighting. Solidarity with the Afghan people and our partners is a key part of our mission. I am going there in order to help ensure the continued free flow of aid to those in need."
Wracked by war for more than 20 years, Afghanistan has also suffered three consecutive years of serious drought. According to a recent report by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), five million Afghans require food aid. Some 700,000 have fled their homes and are now in camps set up on the fringes of the major cities. Over 4.5 million are refugees in neighboring countries. The Afghan refugee population is the biggest in the world.
In Afghanistan, Commissioner Nielson expects to meet representatives of both the Northern Alliance and the Taleban. He will use the opportunity to underline the humanitarian principles to which all parties in the conflict should adhere. These are the requirements to allow free humanitarian access to people in need and the obligation to guarantee the security and independence of humanitarian actors as they carry out their tasks of evaluating needs and implementing relief operations. Mr. Nielson
will start his mission in Pakistan where he will meet with the Foreign Minister Mr. Abdul Sattar and the Minister for Refugees, Mr. Sarfraz Khan as well as United Nations agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's). Continuing to Kabul, Mr. Nielson will spend 5 days in Afghanistan, traveling to Faisabad, Rostaq, Khwaja Bahauddin and, Herat. During this time, as well as meeting officials, NGO's and UN agencies, he will visit a series of ECHO funded projects.
The aid provided by ECHO is governed solely by humanitarian principles and is channeled impartially to those most in need, wherever they are located, regardless of their religious or political convictions, ethnicity or gender. Since last year, ECHO has significantly boosted its support for the victims of the fighting and the drought. For 2001, it allocated funding of €23.5 million, channeled through its operational partners, for food security, health, water, sanitation, de-mining and other
emergency relief projects targeted at displaced people. Over 25 NGO's are currently implementing ECHO projects.
The Commission has provided over €400 million in assistance for Afghanistan since 1991. As well as the €146 million spent by ECHO since 1993, the Commission has also provided support in the form of emergency food aid (€84 million between 1991 and 1999) and support for repatriation and re-integration projects for Afghan refugees returning to the country from Iran and Pakistan as well as those who are internally displaced (€196 million between 1991 and 2000).
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