EU Commission allocates €20m in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan

FR - DE

The political situation in Afghanistan, though fragile, is progressing and post-emergency development assistance is beginning to have a significant impact on people's lives. Nonetheless, humanitarian aid is still needed for the most vulnerable people affected by the long and violent crisis and by recent climatic conditions (notably drought). Returning refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and their host communities face particular challenges. To address the continuing humanitarian needs and foster the return and reintegration process, the Commission has allocated €20 million in humanitarian aid. Assistance is also planned for regions in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran with high numbers of Afghan refugees. The two countries still play host to four million Afghans.

A wide range of activities will be covered by the 2006 humanitarian global plan in the sectors of water/sanitation infrastructure, shelter, income-generation, health, nutrition and protection of vulnerable groups. The plan includes security information and air transport components, aimed at facilitating access and enhancing the security of humanitarian aid workers.

The funding will be channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department which comes under the responsibility of Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. He said: "The European Union has made a huge commitment to Afghanistan which includes substantial emergency assistance. With the forward planning we have done for 2006 we are able to address the still huge needs effectively and without delay. These humanitarian aid operations financed by the Commission are a practical example of Europe's solidarity with the vulnerable people in the region".

Despite the huge international effort and economic and political progress that is slowly yielding results, living conditions remain grim after decades of turbulence, armed conflict and more recent droughts. Even now, only 13% of Afghans have access to safe drinking water and 70% of the population is undernourished. A quarter of young children die before they reach their fifth birthday.

As is often the case in post-crisis situations, there are particular needs linked to the progress made in consolidating peace and embarking on rehabilitation. More promising conditions back home have induced many refugees and internally displaced people to return to their former home areas. Almost 18% of the country's 22 million people are relatively recent returnees (having gone back at some time in the last four years). Three million Afghan refugees still live in Pakistan and a further million are in Iran.

The Commission's humanitarian aid assistance will focus on the needs for the return and reintegration of 600,000 refugees and 120,000 internally displaced persons. The most important sectors are water and sanitation, shelter and protection.

Other needs covered include the assistance of the most vulnerable in host communities, many of whom have only recently returned themselves, as well as the most vulnerable amongst remaining refugees. This could amount to up to 1.4 million people.

More details on:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/afghanistan/index_en.htm

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