Sommaire: April 30, 2002: Afghanistan: Commission provides almost € 20 million extra in humanitarian aid (Brussels)
The European Commission has approved two humanitarian aid decisions for Afghanistan, totaling €19,135,000. The aid is managed by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), which comes under the direct responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson. The first decision, for more than €17 million, ensures continuing assistance for vulnerable groups affected by the civil war, the drought and conflict. A second emergency decision allocates more than €2 million for victims of the earthquake
that struck the Baghlan region on 25 March. Commenting on the latest funding, Poul Nielson said: "More than twenty years of conflict, coupled with droughts and earthquakes, have exacted a terrible cost in human misery with homes destroyed, health and education systems left in ruins and huge numbers of people displaced from their home areas. Through its previous interventions, and these latest decisions, the European Commission is at the forefront of efforts to provide relief to the Afghan
population."
After more than two decades of fighting, compounded by one of the worst droughts in history and the recent earthquakes, Afghans have all but exhausted their means to cope. Huge numbers of people are still displaced within the country or living as refugees in neighboring states and further afield. The relative stability of recent months is reflected in growing numbers of returnees many of whom also need urgent assistance.
The operations funded by ECHO will concentrate mainly on the center, north and west of the country, which are still suffering the serious effects of drought and war. Given the acute needs in terms of food security, ECHO's partners will undertake operations to improve the nutritional status of the worst affected groups. Shelter and other non-food items are also being provided to vulnerable families. Primary health care is being targeted, with a series of projects aimed at improving the health
status of the population.
In the region worst affected by the earthquake, the focus is on rebuilding homes, which have been destroyed or seriously damaged, and on rehabilitating schools, clinics and wells.
Other components of the funding include vital logistical support to facilitate access to beneficiaries and technical assistance in assessing humanitarian needs, appraising project proposals, and co-coordinating humanitarian operations. These are all-important elements given the enormous scale of the crisis in Afghanistan. The country is likely to remain a priority area for humanitarian action during 2002 with millions of Afghans continuing to depend on emergency relief for their survival.
Since 1999, ECHO has provided almost €100 million in humanitarian funding for Afghanistan, implemented through NGO partners, the Red Cross family and UN agencies.
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