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At the G20 summit, EU leaders made their commitments on the humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan.
EU President Ursula von der Lein stated that the EU has pledged to provide Afghanistan with a 1 billion euro (1.15 billion U.S. dollars) aid package to “avoid a major humanitarian and socio-economic collapse.”
A statement said that this money adds 250 million euros (288 million US dollars) to the 300 million euros (346 million US dollars) previously announced by the European Union for emergency humanitarian needs, and the remaining funds will be used for Afghanistan’s neighbors. The country accepts Afghans who fled Taliban rule. Tuesday.
Von der Lein made this commitment at the G20 virtual summit hosted by Italy, which is dedicated to discussing the humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan.
After the last G7 meeting in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over in August, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has been pushing for wider discussions involving other world powers.
The G20 includes the United States, the European Union, China, Turkey, Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia.
Von der Lein’s statement emphasized that EU funds are “direct support” for Afghans and will be used for international organizations working locally, not the interim Taliban government. Brussels does not recognize this.
EU development aid, which is different from humanitarian aid, is still frozen.
“We must do everything we can to avoid a major humanitarian and socio-economic collapse in Afghanistan. We need to do this as soon as possible,” said Von der Lein, noting that winter is approaching.
“We are already aware of the conditions for any contact between us and the Afghan authorities, including respect for human rights. So far, these reports speak for themselves. But the Afghan people should not pay the price for the actions of the Taliban,” she said.
EU countries are cautious about the prospect of a surge in Afghan asylum seekers trying to enter the EU, just like refugees fleeing the Syrian war in 2015.
‘Moral obligation’
Von der Lein has stated that EU countries—especially those participating in the NATO mission that hurriedly withdrew after the Taliban came to power in August—have a “moral responsibility” to help Afghans.
The announced $1.15 billion aid package will increase health expenditures in Afghanistan.
In neighboring countries, it will help immigration management and promote cooperation in combating “terrorism”, crime and immigration smuggling.
On Tuesday’s meeting, the Taliban and the EU-US joint delegation held their first face-to-face meeting in Qatar, while the new ruler of Afghanistan continued its diplomatic campaign seeking international support.
Since the Taliban regained power after the U.S. and other international forces withdrew after 20 years of war, international aid to Afghanistan has been blocked.
The country’s assets held abroad have been frozen, while food prices and employment are rising, and once winter arrives, warnings of humanitarian disaster will be triggered.
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