Brussels, 04/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - In Kabul on Tuesday, the Commissioner for humanitarian aid, Poul Nielsen resumed a project of humanitarian aid financed by Echo (the Community's humanitarian aid Office) for vulnerable Afghan women. The project, entitled "Food for Work" is implemented by Medair, a partner NGO of Echo which provides women working at home with the raw material and tools necessary for the production of quilts who in exchange receive food rations supplied by the World Food Programme, and the quilts are then distributed to other needy people. Celebrating this event, Poul Nielson declared: "This is a concrete example of Europe's solidarity with the victims of the Afghan crisis. Today in Kabul, I have witnessed at first hand the enormous humanitarian challenge that we face. With so many people destitute, and winter almost upon us, it is vital that the aid is delivered as speedily as possible. This food for work project will help hundreds of women with no other source of income to feed themselves and their families".
Poul Nielson also visited a centre for street children run by Terres des Hommes and a road and culvert rehabilitation project implemented in the framework of the UN programme for the relief of vulnerable families in the city of Kabul. He will pursue his mission in Peshawa, in Pakistan, where he will visit the refugee camp of Shamshatoo and meet the Governor of the Province of the North West Border. His mission will end in Islamabad on Friday where he is to meet the Pakistani authorities (including Mr. Safraz Khan, Minister for Refugees), representatives of the World Bank and senior United Nations officials.