KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The European Union (EU) has pledged $100 million in support of humanitarian aid and development projects in Afghanistan’s agricultural sector, according to Taliban authorities.
In a statement, the Taliban Ministry of Economy said that EU representative for Afghanistan, Veronika Boschovic Pohar, announced the latest commitment during her meeting with the Taliban Minister of Economy, Qari Din Mohammad, on Thursday.
The ministry stated that the EU representative also mentioned plans to organize a conference soon to support small-scale economic activities and businesses in Afghanistan.
According to the statement, the Taliban Minister of Economy expressed gratitude for the EU’s past contributions and called for continued cooperation in various sectors.
“EU development aid and support for the private sector and businesses can help improve the economic situation of families. Our people urgently need both humanitarian and development assistance,” part of the Taliban statement reads.
The EU office in Kabul has yet to publicly announce the new commitment or provide further details.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan three years ago, which brought about a humanitarian crisis and widespread poverty, the EU has been one of the major providers of support to the people of Afghanistan.
The EU says it has contributed €903 million for basic needs, livelihoods, forced displacement, and migration, along with €743 million in humanitarian assistance through a nexus approach since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.
The humanitarian situation in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan continues to worsen, with nearly 24 million people—over half of the population, mostly women and children—relying on humanitarian assistance.
The country remains highly susceptible to frequent natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides, due to its mountainous terrain and ongoing environmental degradation.
Additionally, the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from neighboring Iran and Pakistan over the past year has worsened the situation, as they return to Afghanistan with almost nothing, while the Taliban has proven unable to manage the crisis.
On the other hand, humanitarian agencies operating in Afghanistan are facing one of the most significant funding shortfalls in recent years. According to the UN, its $3.07 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan is severely underfunded, with only 30% of the necessary funds secured so far.
