Brussels, 30/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has granted a new humanitarian aid package of EUR 17.645 million for populations affected by drought and years of conflict in Afghanistan. The aid, that will transit through the Community office, ECHO, and its partners (High Commissioner for Refugees, ICRC and various NGOs), will allow food aid to be provided, as well as seeds and fertilisers and non-food items such as blankets and fuel and other essentials. Part of the fund is also intended for refugees in Pakistan and to the displaced populations of Afghanistan.
Over the past two years, ECHO has provided aid to Afghanistan amounting to around EUR 120 million. This new aid will bring the total volume of aid granted in 2002 to 63 million.