KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The European Union (EU) has contributed $21.4 million in funding to enhance food security and community resilience in Afghanistan. The initiative aims to benefit 300,000 individuals across 26 provinces, particularly focusing on vulnerable displaced populations.
In a statement released on Thursday, February 29, the World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed the European Union’s contribution, emphasizing that it will facilitate the development of flood protection walls and irrigation canals. These efforts aim to safeguard local communities against the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.
WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Afghanistan, Mutinta Chimuka, emphasized that “the climate crisis is no longer a glimpse into the future but the reality for communities across Afghanistan where eight out of ten people depend on income from agriculture and climate shocks such as drought, flooding and landslides have a massive effect.”
“We thank the European Union for being a steadfast partner for WFP and supporting our climate-sensitive programs improving the resilience of communities across the country,” she added.
After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the humanitarian situation in the country has deteriorated significantly, making it one of the world’s most critical crises. According to the UN, now more than two-third of the population require urgent humanitarian assistance.
Earlier, WFP reported that approximately 16 million people in Afghanistan are uncertain about their next meal, while 4 million children, along with breastfeeding and pregnant women, suffer from malnutrition.
The humanitarian crisis in the country is primarily caused by a prolonged drought exacerbated by climate change and the loss of substantial foreign assistance. Additionally, Taliban interference with humanitarian aid and restrictions on women and girls’ work in NGOs and humanitarian agencies further exacerbate the situation.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “an estimated 23.7 million people — more than half of Afghanistan’s population — will require humanitarian assistance to survive in 2024.”
This EU financial support represents the first contribution in 2024. Last year, the EU provided millions of dollars in financial assistance for the people of Afghanistan.
In November 2023, the EU delegation in Afghanistan declared a contribution of €61 million in humanitarian aid to address the urgent needs of Afghanistan’s vulnerable population and refugees in neighboring Pakistan.
WFP says that over the past five years, the European Union has contributed more than US$260 million towards WFP’s programmes in Afghanistan. The contributions have funded emergency food assistance, nutrition services, resilience activities, and keeping the humanitarian air service UNHAS operational.
