KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The European Commission has announced €161 million in new humanitarian aid to support vulnerable Afghans in Afghanistan and neighboring countries in 2025.
In a statement on Tuesday, the commission said €141 million will go to humanitarian organizations operating inside Afghanistan, while €20 million will be allocated to help Afghan refugees and host communities in Iran and Pakistan.
The aid package will fund food assistance, healthcare, treatment for malnutrition, and access to clean water and sanitation, particularly in remote areas.
According to the statement, part of the funding will also go towards protecting vulnerable groups, with a specific focus on improving access to education for girls.
“As the Afghan people continue to face numerous hardships, both within Afghanistan and in Pakistan and Iran, the EU remains ready to help them,” said Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.
Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan remain severe due to prolonged drought, widespread poverty, and the return of hundreds of thousands of Afghans from neighboring countries.
The UN estimates that nearly 23 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance, including almost 15 million facing acute food insecurity. Women and girls continue to face restrictions on education and employment.
Despite the growing needs, international funding has sharply declined. The UN’s $2.42 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan in 2025 is only 18% funded as of mid-June.
Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, the EU says it has provided over €860 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
