On Monday 16 June, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hajda Lahbib, announced that additional EU funding of €100 million was being prepared to help Afghans meet their needs, rebuild their lives and reintegrate returnees. This funding will supplement the 161 million already allocated to the Afghan crisis by the European Commission in 2025.
“This total €261 million package brings together the EU’s humanitarian, development, and political tools — a true nexus approach in action”, said Ms Lahbib at a meeting of senior officials from the EU and international organisations.
“All EU aid will continue to follow one guiding principle: by women, for women. That means every euro of our support will be designed, delivered, and monitored with Afghan women and with a special focus on women and girls as beneficiaries”, she added, calling on other donors to get involved in this country, where the Taliban have consolidated their hold on all institutions by imposing strict controls on social behaviour, particularly towards women.
Ms Lahbib also announced the launch of an “Afghanistan Gender Index” in collaboration with the UN agency for gender equality and the empowerment of women. The tool should provide “vital data on how Taliban policies are affecting their lives”, said the European Commissioner. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)