26/10/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 25 October, the European Commission announced that the European Union is to release an additional €5 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan as the number of displaced people and civilian casualties continues to grow. The new EU funding "will reach an estimated 75,000 people and help them meet their most urgent needs, including shelter, food, protection and health care. It will boost our ongoing aid operations in the country, both in government and non-government-held areas", Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides stated, adding: "security challenges for humanitarian workers to deliver aid remain a challenge, full humanitarian access is needed". The extra aid brings to a total of €30.5 million the EU’s humanitarian aid in Afghanistan in 2017 so far. More than €751 million has been granted since 1994. (AN)