On Wednesday 24 January, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianides and European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica strongly condemned the terrorist attack carried out earlier that day against NGO Save the Children in Jalalabad (east Afghanistan).
This attack, which left at least three dead and around 20 wounded, "is a grave violation of international humanitarian law", they said in a joint press release. In their view, it is "an affront to all humanitarian organisations, to humanity, and in particular, it demonstrates a blatant disregard for the well-being and future of all Afghan children, who rely on the dedicated work of others". "Saving lives should not cost lives", they added.
Following the attack, Save the Children has announced that it is temporarily suspending all its operations in Afghanistan. NGOs are regularly targeted in the country.
The three members of the Commission warned that they would not allow "acts of terror to deter our support to those most in need in Afghanistan", and added that the EU stood by the Afghan authorities and people, and remained committed to helping the Afghan people achieve a peaceful future. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)