Germany has announced additional funding to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development have jointly committed an extra 5.8 million euros in aid, supplementing existing support channeled through the United Nations.
Approximately 23 million people in Afghanistan are currently in need of assistance. The government reports that over 3.5 million children under five and more than one million pregnant women, are suffering from acute malnutrition, a situation compounded by the return of Afghan nationals from Iran and Pakistan, further straining already limited resources.
The newly allocated funds will be distributed through the World Food Programme, other UN agencies and non-governmental humanitarian organizations, ensuring aid delivery independent of the Taliban’s “de facto” administration. This funding will prioritize the provision of food and the maintenance of essential healthcare services.
The focus of this aid will be on returning Afghans and communities in border regions, who are experiencing particularly severe hardship. Support will be directed primarily towards women and children.
While Germany remains committed to improving the dire situation in Afghanistan, the government emphasizes that the primary responsibility for the well-being of the Afghan people lies with the Taliban authorities. The Foreign Office stated that the “de facto” government must create conditions allowing for sufficient sustenance and care for the population, including removing restrictions on the freedom of movement and work for women and refraining from interfering with the needs-based distribution of humanitarian assistance. Ensuring access to essential aid for all those in need is paramount, the statement concluded.
