EU humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

Sommaire: November 30, 2001: Commission allocates a further EURO 8.5 million in humanitarian funding for Afghanistan: Tackling the threat of mines (Brussels)

Speaking on the eve of his departure for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Commissioner Poul Nielson has announced further humanitarian aid worth €8.5 million for victims of the Afghan crisis, which is being channeled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) of the European Commission. "This latest decision," said Commissioner Nielson, "highlights the way ECHO is able to respond to the changing needs on the ground. It includes additional funds for demining operations, which are essential to minimize casualties in a situation where large numbers of people are trying to go home. With so many unexploded mines and bombs, and so many people on the move, the risks have increased significantly and urgent action is needed." This latest decision brings the amount of Commission humanitarian aid for Afghanistan to €52.4 million this year, of which €29 million has been decided since 11 September.

The de-mining actions include training for disposal experts in handling new types of unexploded ordnance used by coalition forces in recent weeks. The decision also focuses on assisting people returning to their homes, through the provision of farm tools, seeds and shelter materials.

Other actions being supported in the latest package include emergency food and medical support for:

resident populations in the area around Kandahar, where new humanitarian needs have become evident;
internally displaced people still in camps who are expected to remain there until the end of the winter;
drought-affected populations in the north and center of the country.

Finally, the decision has a component for the re-opening of an ECHO office in Kabul and the purchase of an additional 40 trucks for the World Food Programme, on top of the 22 funded in an earlier decision.

The funds are being channeled through three of ECHO's UN partners (WFP, FAO and IOM) and seven European NGOs.

Ref: EC01-093EN
Source UE: Commission Européenne
UN forum:
Date: 30/11/2001

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