RASC News Agency: The European Union has pledged €15 million in financial support to the World Food Programme (WFP) for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. In a statement issued on Thursday, December 5, the EU announced that the funds will assist local communities in preparing for natural disaster risks and enhancing resilience against the detrimental impacts of climate change. The EU also emphasized that Afghanistan remains in urgent need of aid, with a large portion of its population awaiting humanitarian assistance.
The statement noted that, so far this year, more than 160,000 people have been affected by floods, with nearly 20,000 homes and thousands of hectares of agricultural land devastated. The European Union reiterated its commitment to supporting the Afghan population in adapting to climate change, underscoring its ongoing dedication to alleviating the crisis. Veronika Bosković-Poher, Charge d’Affaires of the European Union in Afghanistan, stated that the recent contribution brings the EU’s total support for the WFP’s resilience program in Afghanistan to €85.1 million since 2022.
In response to the climate emergency, the World Food Programme has been undertaking small-scale infrastructure projects, including irrigation canals, dams, and flood barriers, to mitigate the effects of climate change. The WFP has also been providing training programs to both men and women facing food insecurity, equipping them with the skills necessary to earn stable incomes and achieve self-sufficiency.
Harald Meinhart, Deputy Director of the World Food Programme in Afghanistan, emphasized the importance of these initiatives: “These projects are vital in preparing communities to become self-sufficient, feed their families, and reduce their reliance on humanitarian food aid.”
