Extra 15m euro aid in pipeline for Afghan war refugees

Date: 15/11/01

By Martin Banks

THE European Union is making a further €15 million of humanitarian aid available for victims of the crisis in Afghanistan.

The decision comes on top of the €25 million in aid already committed by the EU working in conjunction with the World Food Programme (WFP). The area around Mazar-I-Sharif, which has a large refugee population and was this week taken by the Northern Alliance, has been earmarked for much of the latest contribution.

The EU's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) will support three NGOs - Action Contre la Faim-France, SCF-UK and Aide Médicale Internationale-FR - which are currently implementing programmes in the area. Proposed measures include therapeutic and supplementary feeding centres, food rations for children and support for hospitals.

The €25 million package announced last week will be spent increasing the WFP's fleet of lorries delivering aid in Afghanistan to almost 200 and on a compre-hensive food aid programme.

Development Aid Commissioner Poul Nielson said it was crucial aid got through to those most in need: "With tried-and-tested aid agencies operating in the humanitarian front line, we are working together to do our utmost to ensure that relief gets through. Humanitarian assistance is an absolute priority."

The European Union is making a further €15 million of humanitarian aid available for victims of the crisis in Afghanistan.